Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation sector have endorsed the bill for the establishment of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja during a one-day public hearing held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the National Assembly.
The purpose of this bill is to provide legislative life for the university, which symbolizes foresight and recognizes that the future of aviation and aerospace in Nigeria must be founded on knowledge, innovation, and institutional strength.
The hearing was organized by the House Committee on Aviation Technology and attracted participants from government, academia, and the aviation industry. They described this initiative as a vital step toward addressing manpower shortages and enhancing research, innovation, and sustainability in the aviation and aerospace sectors across Africa.
Opening the hearing, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, along with Committee Chairman Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun, praised the initiative as a historic milestone in positioning Nigeria as Africa’s hub for aviation education, research, and innovation.
Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, led the AAAU delegation, which included the Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, CON; members of the Council; AAAU’s Registrar, Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi; representatives of the African Centre for Climate Change and Aviation Development (ACCCAD); as well as management, staff, and students of the university.
Dr. Abubakar, representing the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hon. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), characterized the establishment of AAAU as a visionary initiative aimed at bridging the human capacity gap in the aviation industry and promoting indigenous research and innovation. He emphasized that the bill would provide the institution with a strong legal framework to support its mandate and maintain its global relevance.
On behalf of the university community, the Registrar, Dr. Abdullahi, expressed AAAU’s full support for the bill, stating, “Our support for this Bill is total. It will provide the legal framework needed to expand our reach, attract global partnerships, and meet Nigeria’s and Africa’s aviation manpower needs.”
Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, highlighted the university’s significant achievements since its inception, including the allocation of 200 hectares of land for its permanent site along Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja. He urged the National Assembly to expedite the bill’s passage to strengthen the university’s progress and attract international collaborations.
The Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Dr. Danjuma Ismail, described the AAAU as a complementary institution that would address academic and research gaps in the aviation industry. Similarly, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, noted that the establishment of AAAU is “not just desirable but imperative” for producing disciplined, globally competitive aviation professionals.
Other stakeholders who voiced their support for the bill included representatives from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the National Universities Commission (NUC), various agencies under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Women in Aviation International (WAI), and other key industry stakeholders, all of whom commended the vision behind the establishment of the university.
