In a momentous stride for Nigeria and the African continent, the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM) — Africa’s first privately owned university dedicated to aeronautics and management — was formally unveiled on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Plateau Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The grand event, which doubled as a world press conference, gathered a distinguished assembly of leaders from the aviation, education, defence, diplomatic, and legislative sectors. Among the notable attendees were Hon. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Amb. Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Senator Abubakar Mahadi; Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of the NCAA; Air Vice Marshal (Prof.) Paul Jemitola (Rtd), Vice Chancellor of IBUAM; and Comrade Isaac Balami, Founder and Chancellor of IBUAM.
Also present were representatives of the Minister of Women Affairs, members of the National Assembly, senior government officials, industry experts, and journalists from across the country.
“IBUAM Is a Revolution, Not Just a University” — VC Jemitola
Delivering the keynote address, Air Vice Marshal (Prof.) Paul Jemitola (Rtd) described the institution as a groundbreaking development that would transform the landscape of aviation education and leadership in Africa.
“Today, we unveil not just a university, but a revolution designed to shape the future of aviation and leadership across Africa,” he said. “The International Civil Aviation Organisation projects that over 65,000 new African aviation professionals will be needed by 2040. Our university is a timely response to that call.”
Prof. Jemitola outlined IBUAM’s unique educational model, which blends academic learning with hands-on professional training.
“Every graduate of this university will not only earn a degree but also acquire a Private Pilot Licence and Aircraft Maintenance Certification in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards,” he noted.
He emphasized that IBUAM’s curriculum is designed to make its students “global professionals with African roots.”
“Our students will log over 1,000 flight and simulation hours with industry partners such as Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce,” he said. “We are building an ecosystem where pilots graduate as entrepreneurs, engineers as innovators, and managers as visionaries.”
The Vice Chancellor closed his remarks with an open invitation to students across Africa and beyond:
“If you dream of flying, fixing, managing, or leading, this is the runway to your future. Visit www.ibuam.edu.ng and begin your journey.”
“From a Village Boy to a University Founder” — Balami’s Emotional Testimony
In an emotionally charged address, Comrade Isaac Balami, founder and chancellor of IBUAM, recounted his humble beginnings in Maiduguri, Borno State, before rising to become a respected figure in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
“I came from a background where I was a suck-away evacuator, a bus conductor, and a farm labourer,” he said. “During school holidays, when others played football, I was in the bush working to support my family. Today, by God’s grace, we are unveiling Africa’s first private aeronautics and management university.”
Balami paid tribute to those who supported his vision, particularly Minister Festus Keyamo, Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Minister of Education, who approved the institution’s licence after what he described as a “rigorous but fair process.”
“Even when it looked impossible, the Minister of Education saw the gap in the aviation industry and acted with courage. The Civil Aviation Authority and the NUC were thorough but supportive. Today, that diligence has given birth to IBUAM,” he said.
Explaining IBUAM’s practical training model, Balami revealed that the university is directly connected to an aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility in Lagos.
“Our students will not just study theory; they will spend their weekends and holidays in the hangar — repairing engines, testing avionics, and learning real-life operations. By graduation, they will be employable anywhere in the world without supervision,” he said.
He further assured that IBUAM will be a model of excellence and accountability, committed to making Nigeria a continental hub for aviation innovation.
“IBUAM is a patriotic response to Africa’s aviation manpower deficit,” Balami declared. “We want to assure the President and the Federal Executive Council that we will make Nigeria proud.”
Empowering Women, Building Africa’s Future
In one of the day’s major announcements, Balami disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had pledged to sponsor 100 female students annually from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to study at IBUAM.
“This partnership will help break barriers and open the skies to women,” he said, drawing loud applause from the audience.
Mrs. Jimmy Okoye, representing the Minister of Women Affairs, commended the initiative as “a landmark for gender inclusion in aviation.”
“We are proud to support a university that is not only training pilots and engineers but also building leaders — both male and female — who will shape Africa’s future,” she remarked.
National Leaders Laud IBUAM’s Vision
In their goodwill messages, top officials and legislators hailed the project as a symbol of hope and progress.
Ambassador Gabriel Aduda described the university as “a national pride and a beacon for Africa’s next generation of innovators.”
Senator Abubakar Mahadi praised the initiative for “turning dreams into institutional realities,” while Capt. Chris Najomo, DG of NCAA, pledged continued regulatory support to ensure global compliance and operational excellence.
A Symbol of Hope and Excellence
As the ceremony concluded, guests lauded the vision and tenacity behind the project, describing it as “the takeoff of a new Nigeria where innovation meets patriotism.”
With its bold motto, “Excellence in the Skies, Leadership on the Ground,” the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management officially begins its journey — not just as an institution of learning, but as a beacon of African ingenuity, courage, and progress.
In the words of Comrade Balami: “Nobody will come to fix Nigeria for us. It is our duty to build it ourselves. IBUAM is our contribution — our runway to a brighter, stronger Africa.”
