The federal government is to establish a Pan-African Aviation University with the aim of building capacity within the aviation and aerospace management sectors to meet up with local and regional demands in the sector.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, announced this in Katsina at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the Meteorological Institute of Science and Technology, Katsina.
The African aviation and aerospace university, according to the minister, will produce world class graduates that will become experts in aviation and aerospace science to service the increasing demand for pilots and aeronautical professionals in Nigeria and the Africa sub-region.
“The African Aviation and Aerospace University will be sited in Abuja, the federal government will establish it in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and some member countries of the organisation within the African continent.
The university will be the first of its kind in Africa, it will be involved with research and development and all other aspects of civil aviation and aerospace technology”, Sirika noted.
Director-General, Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) Professor Mansur Bako Matazu said the Meteorological Institute of Science and Technology has programmes for short term specialised courses and refresher courses to build capacity in the sector particularly with the increasing threat of climate change and the need to adapt to it and mitigate its effects on livelihoods and the environment.
The Registrar of the institute, Dr Bishir Gambo, said a total of 114 students were being matriculated as the first set of intakes for the diploma course run by the institution.
