Baze University acquires two training aircraft for new Abuja aviation school

Baze University in Abuja has taken delivery of two brand-new Diamond DA40 training aircraft for its aviation school in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory. The aircraft arrived late on Friday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and received a traditional water-cannon salute, according to Premium Times and the Nigerian Tribune.

Pro-Chancellor Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed announced the acquisition. He said the school intends to train at least 600 professionals in fields such as pilot training, air traffic control, air rescue and firefighting, subject to regulatory approval. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi added that Baze University will become the first private university in Africa to operate its own aviation school with owned aircraft.

The two aircraft will be used for practical flight training alongside ground-school instruction, according to school Coordinator retired Air Vice Marshal Aliyu G. Bello. Bello noted that the university plans to expand its fleet with twin-engine planes and flight simulators as enrolment for the pilot programme begins.

Construction of the aviation facility is about 50 percent complete. The project occupies a 92-hectare site in Bwari and will feature an 1,800-metre runway, a 30-metre wide strip with a 15-metre shoulder, a hangar, terminal building, laboratories and simulation centres. Baba-Ahmed noted support from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

The National Universities Commission has approved two full-time undergraduate programmes for the 2026/2027 session: Aviation Management under the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences and Aerospace Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering. These programmes will complement the hands-on training provided by the new aircraft.

Adeniyi described the investment as part of an entrepreneurial vision that combines education, healthcare and aviation to create jobs, build local capacity and develop human capital. He stated that private investment can reduce reliance on foreign expertise and contribute to national development.

The arrival of the aircraft and the ongoing infrastructure work show that Baze University is moving towards operationalising its aviation school, making the institution a pioneer in private aviation education in Africa.