Baze University, Abuja, is developing an aviation training facility at its Bwari campus as part of efforts to expand specialised aviation education and support the training of aviation professionals in Nigeria.
The project, initiated by the university’s Founder and Chancellor, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, is being developed on about 88 hectares of land and is expected to provide facilities for pilot training and other areas of aviation education.
The proposed facility will include a dedicated runway, aircraft hangar, terminal building, flight operations and planning facilities, classrooms, briefing rooms, aviation laboratories, a library, simulation facilities and other infrastructure required for aviation training.
According to the university, the project is nearing completion, while arrangements are being made to commence flight training with two training aircraft.
The facility is designed to combine academic instruction with simulation, flight operations and practical training.
Baze University said the development was being undertaken with relevant aviation regulatory and professional training requirements in view.
Under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, organisations seeking approval to conduct aviation training are required to meet specified standards relating to facilities, equipment, qualified personnel, training programmes, quality assurance, safety management, aircraft and operational procedures.
The approval process also involves the assessment of documentation, demonstration of operational capacity and inspection by the relevant aviation regulatory authorities.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, received a delegation from Baze University led by Senator Baba-Ahmed in February 2026.
During the meeting, the university sought Federal Government support for the project, including assistance in facilitating relevant regulatory and administrative processes.
The proposed aviation school is expected to have a dedicated runway for flight training and other aviation-related programmes.
The university has said the runway, when completed, could rank among the longest university-owned runways in Africa, subject to comparisons with similar facilities on the continent.
The project comes as African countries seek to strengthen aviation capacity and increase the number of trained professionals required to support the growth of the sector.
The facility is also expected to provide opportunities for training, research and professional development in aviation-related fields.
Baze University, established in 2011, has expanded its academic programmes and physical infrastructure over the years.
The proposed aviation school represents the university’s move into specialised aviation education, combining university-based learning with practical flight training.
When completed and operational, the aviation school is expected to provide additional opportunities for aviation education and professional training in Nigeria and potentially attract students from other African countries.
