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The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Friday announced scholarships for 100 girls to be enrolled at the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).
The announcement was made during the official unveiling of the university at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Represented by her Special Adviser, Judith Okoye, the Minister congratulated Comrade Isaac Balami and his team for what she described as a visionary and transformative initiative that would strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry.
She described Balami’s effort as “a clear case of what is possible when vision meets determination,” adding that the university represents “a bridge between dreams and opportunity.”
According to her, the establishment of IBUAM would, for the first time in Nigeria’s history, provide young Nigerians — particularly women — with direct access to world-class aviation and management training within the country.
“IBUAM is a true testament to Nigeria’s capacity for innovation and excellence under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” she said.
Reaffirming her ministry’s commitment to expanding access and inclusion for women, Hajiya Imaan noted that only about 13 percent of jobs in the aviation sector are currently held by women.
“Our goal is to bridge this noticeable gap,” she said. “In this regard, the ministry is delighted to announce its intention to partner with IBUAM to train an initial 100 young women from across the Nigerian states as the first batch of female trainees under this transformative collaboration.”
She added that investing in women’s education is synonymous with investing in the nation’s future, as empowered women contribute directly to economic growth and national stability.
Similarly, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, commended Balami for his bold vision, describing IBUAM as a landmark achievement that the government is proud to support.
He said Balami had accomplished what even the government had struggled to do, positioning IBUAM as both “a competitor and a partner” in advancing the aviation sector.
“The government stands firmly behind this project,” Keyamo said. “What Comrade Balami has done is revolutionary — combining aviation training, management education, and aircraft maintenance under one roof.”
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of IBUAM, Professor Paul Jemitola, a British-trained aerospace expert, described the university as “a revolution designed to shape the future of aviation and leadership in Africa.”
“Our vision, inspired by the innovation of our founder, Engineer Isaac Balami, is to combine global standards with local expertise,” he said. “Regardless of one’s chosen discipline, every student at IBUAM will have the opportunity to master piloting and leadership alongside their primary course of study.”
Prof. Jemitola revealed that IBUAM students would graduate not only with academic degrees but also with professional aviation certifications.
“When you graduate from our university, you earn a degree — but you also walk away with a private pilot license, and even the option of a commercial pilot license or international aircraft certification,” he explained.
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, also lauded Balami’s achievement, describing him as “a brother and a visionary.”
He reaffirmed the NCAA’s readiness to collaborate with the university, saying the era of sending personnel abroad for aviation training was coming to an end.
“This development perfectly aligns with NCAA’s mandate to promote safety, growth, and sustainability in Nigeria’s aviation industry,” he said. “A strong regulatory system depends on the quality of human capital that drives it — and IBUAM will play a vital role in that process.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tamunominini Aduda, also commended Balami, describing the university as “the unveiling of a vision” that would help Nigeria train pilots and engineers locally, thereby creating jobs and strengthening national capacity.
The convener further advised all candidates who scored cut-off points of 200 and above to go to https://www.ibuam.edu.ng/ to register quickly.
It assured candidates that most of its scholarships will come from development agencies, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the North East Development Commission, NEDC.
