Africa’s aviation industry is taking a bold leap forward as Nigeria unveils the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), the continent’s first privately owned university dedicated exclusively to aeronautics and management sciences.
Located in Abuja and recently licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), IBUAM is designed to produce industry-ready aviators, engineers, and managers equipped with both academic knowledge and practical experience to compete globally.
Speaking at the official unveiling, Dr. Isaac Balami, Founder of IBUAM and a trained aircraft engineer, said the university was established as a deliberate response to the critical shortage of skilled aviation professionals in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Africa will require over 65,000 skilled aviation professionals in the next decade, yet Nigeria and other leading nations currently produce fewer than 500 annually,” Balami said. “We cannot continue to depend on expatriates when our youths can be trained to fill those roles. IBUAM is a response to that gap.”
Balami explained that the university integrates classroom learning with hands-on practical training tied directly to an operational Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos.
“Every student will spend holidays and breaks in the hangar—flying, repairing engines, working on landing gears, and gaining the real experience the industry demands,” he added.
Balami shared his personal story as the inspiration behind IBUAM’s vision. “My parents sold a property to pay barely 20% of my aviation tuition. When I passed my screening, the then Governor of Borno State stepped in and paid my fees. That single act changed my life, and now I want to give other young Africans that same opportunity.”
To bring that vision to life, IBUAM has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to sponsor over 1,000 students from 11 Niger Delta states.
“The NDDC has built a facility that can accommodate 1,000 students and has asked us to manage it. They’ll sponsor tuition for qualified candidates. If you can’t afford it, we’ll advocate for you, just as people once did for me,” Balami said.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, hailed the initiative as a “game-changer” for Africa’s aviation landscape.
“For the first time, Africa will be able to train, lease, and maintain aircraft locally. That’s how we save money and build value,” he said.
Keyamo highlighted that Nigeria’s aviation reforms, including airport concessions, a new MRO facility in Lagos, and collaborations with global manufacturers, reflect growing investor confidence in the sector.
The Vice Chancellor of IBUAM, Prof. Paul Jemitola, a retired Air Vice Marshal, described the university as “a revolution in aviation education.”
“Our model allows every student, regardless of discipline, to undergo hands-on pilot training alongside their academic programme — graduating with a degree, a private pilot licence, and international aircraft maintenance certification,” he explained.
Students will log over 1,000 hours of practical training on live aircraft and advanced simulators before graduation. IBUAM has also partnered with Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce to ensure world-class learning and practical exposure.
“Here, pilots will graduate as entrepreneurs, engineers as innovators, and managers as visionaries,” Jemitola added.
For decades, aspiring African pilots have travelled abroad, spending between $30,000 and $130,000 for training in Europe or the U.S. With IBUAM, those costs and the expertise will now remain within the continent.
Balami expressed gratitude to the Ministers of Aviation and Education, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the NUC for their support, dedicating the milestone to young Nigerians who believe in nation-building.
“This dream is dedicated to the youth of Nigeria, those who believe we can fix our country by building, not complaining,” he said.
With IBUAM’s establishment, Nigeria positions itself as the hub of aviation education and innovation in Africa, potentially saving the continent hundreds of millions of dollars annually while empowering a new generation of African aviators with globally competitive skills.
“We’re not just training pilots,” Balami concluded. “We’re training Africa’s future. Every dollar we keep in Africa strengthens our ability to soar higher together.”
Admissions are now open on the university’s official website for aspiring aviators, engineers, and managers passionate about shaping the future of aviation in Africa.
