Aviation: NCAT Zaria to Serve as Alternative to Kaduna Airport – Rector

The Rector, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Dr. Danjuma Ismail has said the ongoing runway expansion project, which is nearing completion, will offer the much-needed solution for airlines seeking options beyond Kaduna airport.

Dr. Ismaila gave this indication in Zaria while briefing journalists on the operations of the institution.

The Rector therefore appealed to the government for additional equipment and improved funding to harness its potentials for providing the manpower needs of the aviation sector in the region.

Dr Ismaila said that the college was poised to become an aviation training hub and a one stop-solution for aviation industry training in Nigeria and beyond.

“Currently, the college is in partnership with some African countries such as Kenya, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia among other African countries. Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority of South Sudan visited the college where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them on training.

“We have trainees from Egypt who spent almost six weeks on training and two months ago, trainees from French speaking countries were at the college for different trainings.

He, however, added that none of these countries have an aviation college that was as big as NCAT in terms of programmes and infrastructure. Ismail said, “In spite of these, NCAT is also lacking in some other aspects, notwithstanding, our courses are meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

“However, upon assumption of office, I realised that the college has potentials to make more impacts to the aviation industry in the region.” This, according to the rector, shaped his decision to reposition the college in terms of infrastructure, manpower, additional programmes and equipment towards achieving these goals.

While acknowledging the monumental successes of the college in bolstering the manpower needs of the Aviation industry in Nigeria and Africa, the rector stated that it was solely funded by the Federal Government.

Ismail added, “As such, it encounters hitches in meeting its funding needs,’ stressing that challenge was not peculiar to the college alone as there were other competing demands to be addressed by the government.

He said the college was innovating means to enhance its internally generated revenue to address the funding gaps. “If we can provide additional equipment and facilities, the college can be self-sufficient in terms of funding,’’ he said.

The rector said the college had a Boeing 737 Simulator, which reduces the country’s capital flight, adding, “Nigerian Pilots do not have to travel abroad to renew their licences or other forms of further training.”

Ismail added that foreign pilots used to come to NCAT Zaria to train using the Boeing 737 Simulator. If we acquire additional simulators for all aircraft, the college will be self-sustaining and it will be the first in Africa to meet the major needs of the aviation industry,’’ he said.

Dr Ismail, Rector averred that the institution may soon be able to offer its services to accommodate more air traffic for bigger and commercial aircraft. The rector said the college had discovered that there were opportunities to attract much commercial traffic.

He was working to convert the acquired Zaria Hotel into a four-star hotel for accommodating students and other members of the public, he explained: “Some students who might find the college’s hostel not convenient. Some of these students are international pilots who have thousands of flying hours.

“They are already rich guys; you will not expect them to find our conventional hostel convenient, hence the need for a befitting accommodation for them. The hotel was purchased at the cost of N1.313 billion from the Africa Continental Hotel, managers of the facility sometime in June 2023.

However, the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, said the hotel was to be converted into classrooms and hostels for NCAT. He said then, “This acquisition is intended to expand NCAT’s capacity and enhance its training facilities. The conversion will provide additional learning and accommodation options for the students.”

It’s certainly indisputable to state that with the extant trajectory, this untiring achiever whose profile is ever-soaring is set to take NCAT to more greater heights. With the right support, funding and political will, Dr Bala Ismaila will really and undoubtedly propel the college to become an inevitable hub in Aviation training in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Source: Amani