…Balami’s University to produce work-ready engineers and pilots
In a bid to address the deficit in aviation education and training in Nigeria and Africa, Engr. Issac Balami, a renowned aviation expert and entrepreneur, has established the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, IBIAM.
The university, located in Oshodi, close to the airport, aims to provide students with hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as aeronautical engineering and management.
According to Balami, the university was birthed out of his passion for Nigeria and Africa, and his desire to bridge the gap in aviation education.
With over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Balami believes that Nigeria can produce world-class aircraft engineers and pilots, and is committed to making this a reality.
The university’s curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in aeronautics and management, with a focus on practical skills and experience.
Students will have access to the university’s hangar and aircraft for training, and will be able to accumulate up to 7,000 to 10,000 hours on a live aircraft by the time they graduate.
Balami believes that this approach will not only produce highly skilled engineers and pilots but also address the management challenges that have plagued Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“We have issues with management in Nigeria’s aviation sector,” he says.
“No airline in Nigeria has a lifespan of more than 10 years, and it all falls back to management.”
The university’s programme is designed to address this gap, with a focus on producing graduates who are not only technically skilled but also equipped with management skills.
Balami believes that this will make them more employable and able to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The university has already received recognition from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and has attracted interest from parents and students across Africa.
Balami believes that the university will change the narrative in Nigeria’s aviation sector and provide a model for private university education in the country.
Responding to critics who say that private universities are glorified secondary schools, Balami says that this is not the case.
“Why should they call it a glorified school?” he asks. “If you feel it’s glorified, go start yours and make it big.”
The university’s establishment is a significant development in Nigeria’s education sector, particularly in the area of aviation education.
With a focus on practical skills and experience, the university is poised to produce highly skilled graduates who will contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
