…Calls for more specialized aviation courses, as AAAU matriculates 127

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) against deviating from its specialised mandate, insisting that the institution must remain focused on aviation and aerospace education.

Speaking at the university’s third matriculation ceremony in Abuja, where 52 undergraduate and 75 postgraduate students were admitted, Keyamo said every academic programme introduced by the institution must directly support the aviation and aerospace sectors.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, the minister said the Federal Government would not allow the university to drift from the purpose for which it was established.

“AAAU was established as a specialised aviation and aerospace university, and as far as this administration is concerned, that is exactly what it shall remain. Every new programme introduced must align with the university’s strategic mandate and contribute directly to aviation, aerospace and related sectors,” he said.

He noted that some specialised universities in the country had abandoned their original mandates by introducing unrelated courses, warning that such a trend must not be repeated at AAAU.

“We must resist the temptation to become everything to everyone. Rather, we must strive to become the very best in what we were created to do—aviation, aerospace and related sciences,” he added.

While commending the university’s progress over its three academic sessions, Keyamo said the institution currently operates only a limited number of programmes and urged its management to broaden its academic offerings to meet the manpower needs of the aviation industry.

He listed priority areas for expansion to include aircraft engineering, aerospace engineering, aviation management, airport operations, aviation technology management, unmanned aircraft systems, air navigation services, aviation safety, aviation law, aviation finance, aviation medicine, logistics and supply chain management, meteorology and aircraft economics.

The minister, however, stressed that the expansion must not compromise the university’s founding vision.

He also advised the newly admitted students to uphold discipline, shun examination malpractice, cultism and violence, and take advantage of research and professional development opportunities to prepare for careers in the aviation industry.

Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of AAAU, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution was established to address Africa’s growing demand for highly skilled aviation professionals.

According to him, international projections indicate that the global aviation industry will require hundreds of thousands of professionals over the next two decades, with Africa expected to record one of the fastest growth rates.

Abdullahi said the African Aviation and Aerospace University student population had grown from 29 undergraduates when academic activities commenced in 2023 to 311 students, while its professional training directorate had trained more than 500 industry professionals.

He said the university remained committed to producing competent professionals, innovative researchers and industry leaders capable of advancing Nigeria’s and Africa’s aviation and aerospace sectors.

The acting vice-chancellor also urged the matriculating students to embrace hard work, discipline and integrity, stressing that there was no room for mediocrity in the aviation industry because mistakes could cost lives