Baze University, Abuja, has acquired two aircraft from Austria as part of efforts to establish a full-fledged aviation training school in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, with plans to train at least 600 aviation professionals.
The aircraft, identified as Diamond DA40 single-engine planes, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, November 6, where they received a traditional water-cannon salute.
The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, disclosed the development after the aircraft’s arrival, describing the acquisition as a significant investment in aviation education and Nigeria’s human capital development.
He said the institution intended to train professionals in specialised areas, including piloting, air traffic control, aircraft rescue and firefighting, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
Baba-Ahmed explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation workforce and position the country to take greater advantage of opportunities in the global aviation industry.
He also disclosed that construction of the aviation school’s infrastructure in Bwari had reached approximately 50 per cent completion, with plans for an aerodrome measuring 1,800 metres in length and 30 metres in width, alongside additional shoulders.
The facility is expected to include a dedicated runway, hangar, terminal building, laboratories and flight simulation centres.
The Coordinator of the Aviation School project, retired Air Vice Marshal Aliyu Bello, said the newly acquired aircraft would be deployed for practical flight training, giving students hands-on experience alongside classroom instruction.
He added that the university planned to acquire additional aircraft, including twin-engine planes, as well as flight simulators, as the training programme expands.
Bello further disclosed that the National Universities Commission had approved two full-time undergraduate programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session: Aviation Management in the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences and Aerospace Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, described the acquisition as a major milestone, saying the institution was positioning itself as the first privately owned university in Africa to operate an aviation school with its own training aircraft.
He said the project was intended to contribute to the development of skilled aviation professionals for Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The establishment of the aviation school is expected to expand practical aviation training opportunities in the country and complement the university’s existing academic programmes.