By Esther Onyegbula

In a major push to rebuild its human capital base and position its youths for global opportunities, the Borno State Government has sponsored 54 students to the newly established Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management for combined pilot and engineering training.

The students, who form the pioneer batch of the institution, will undergo a five-year degree programme in Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Software Engineering, alongside professional pilot training.
Founder of the university, Isaac Balami, described the development as “historic,” noting that the admission of the Borno-sponsored students marks the formal take-off of the specialised aviation institution after four years of groundwork.
“Today is a historic day for us. We are receiving the first batch of 54 pilot and aircraft engineering students sponsored by the Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum,” Balami said.
He disclosed that the students would graduate not only as engineers and pilots but also as systems thinkers equipped to tackle complex challenges within the aviation ecosystem.

According to him, the university received special approval from the National Universities Commission, with a curriculum designed to integrate intensive classroom learning and hands-on industry exposure.

“What makes this institution unique is that beyond the conventional classroom structure, students will train directly in the hangar and log about 1,000 practical hours annually. They will be exposed to global aviation standards and manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Sikorsky,” he said.
Balami added that the goal is to train graduates to build, manufacture and innovate within the sector rather than merely seek employment after graduation.
He revealed that the vision for the university was conceived over two decades ago during his tenure as President of the Nigerian Aircraft Engineers and Pilots, when he advocated increased local participation in technical aviation roles.

Recalling his early days in the industry, Balami said he secured a loan of between ₦2.5 million and ₦3 million from the defunct Oceanic Bank to push reforms in the sector and engage airline operators nationwide on sustainability and indigenous capacity development.
That advocacy, he said, later birthed Seven Star Global, which started with $2,000 and has grown into a significant aviation operation in West and Central Africa.
On the decision to site the university in Lagos rather than Borno, Balami cited security and strategic considerations.

“If Nigeria had enjoyed sustained security over the past decade, this university would likely have been sited in Borno State. Borno was once known as a hub of peace and learning. However, due to over a decade of insurgency, that became difficult,” he said, expressing hope that a satellite campus would be established in Borno as stability improves.

He described Lagos as strategic, being Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and aviation hub for West and Central Africa.
Balami also highlighted Africa’s growing aviation manpower deficit, noting that the continent is projected to require about 29,000 pilots and 31,000 aircraft engineers over the next decade.
“Existing institutions across the continent cannot meet this demand alone. Our mission is to help bridge that gap,” he said.

The cost of the programme, he disclosed, ranges between $20,000 and $40,000 per year, covering tuition, accommodation, feeding, insurance, aircraft type rating and piloting training.
Explaining the rationale behind the sponsorship, Executive Secretary of the Borno State Scholarship Board, Dr. Bala Isa, said the initiative forms part of the state government’s broader effort to restore Borno’s educational legacy following years of disruption caused by insurgency.

“Borno State has gone through very difficult times with the emergence of the Boko Haram issue, which brought a great setback to the educational sector. There was a time our schools were almost closed for more than one and a half years,” he said.
He commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for prioritising human capital development, noting that the state has sponsored students to countries such as China, Egypt and India in fields including medicine, engineering and nursing.
According to him, the decision to sponsor students for aeronautics and pilot training followed appeals from parents and the limited admission capacity at local pilot institutions.

“We approached the Nigerian Pilot Institute in Zaria, but they could only admit five students per year. That would have taken us about six years to train just 30 pilots. We also explored options in the Philippines, China and Korea, but the costs were high,” Isa said.
He added that the discovery of the Lagos-based aeronautics university provided a viable and cost-effective alternative, leading to the screening and admission of 54 qualified Borno indigenes.

For the beneficiaries, the scholarship represents a transformative opportunity.
Seventeen-year-old Ihsan Yakubu from Chibok Local Government Area, admitted to study Software Engineering alongside aviation training, expressed gratitude to the state government.
“This scholarship is a dream come true. Aviation has always been my goal, and I am so happy and excited. It is a life-changing opportunity,” she said.
Yakubu also stressed that her participation in the programme would inspire other girls to pursue careers in aviation.
“Aviation is a field for both men and women. No course is solely meant for one gender,” she added.

Another beneficiary, Baba Ahmad Umar from Maiduguri, studying Mechatronics Engineering, described the sponsorship as a turning point.
“This is a life-changing opportunity. I will make sure I do my best to make my parents, my community and the state proud,” he said.
Also speaking, Architect Abayomi Omotosho Ikuru described the establishment of the university and the Borno government’s intervention as a significant boost to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“This is one of the best developments for aviation in Nigeria. It is a commendable initiative for human capital development and the future of aviation in the country,” he said.

With the pioneer batch now admitted, stakeholders say the partnership between Borno State and the specialised aviation university signals a renewed commitment to rebuilding educational excellence in the North-East and positioning Nigerian youths at the forefront of Africa’s fast-growing aviation industry.