Since its establishment, the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, has continued to make remarkable progress in the pursuit of excellence in aviation and aerospace education. Within a short span, the university has earned recognition both locally and internationally for its innovative approach to training and research. In this exclusive interview, the Registrar of the university, Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, speaks with journalists on the journey so far, the challenges faced in building the institution from scratch, ongoing partnerships, and the bright prospects ahead. Oluwakemi Awe reports…
Q:
Despite the short period the school started, you have done a lot. Tell us, where are we coming from?
A:
Thank you very much.
Well, you said despite the successes I have recorded, I would want to make certain things clearer. Whatever we’re having today in this nascent institution is a collective effort of the entirety of staff, including the students, especially the pioneer students of this university.
Because without the collective efforts, without the commitment and sacrifices that every one of us has put in place, we wouldn’t have been where we are today. From the get-go, we understood the power of collective leadership. We understood the essence of not operating in silos.
So whatever success we’ve been able to achieve, and in most cases, I said not so modest, nor that they’re not so humble, because we’re really proud of what we have achieved so far and it is a collective effort of the entire staff and students of this university.
Q:
When this institution started, a lot of people cast doubt about how you could achieve this. What has been the magic behind your progress?
A:
This has really taken me years back to remember the early days of this university. If you say people were casting doubt in the sustainability of the university, I think I need to tell you this categorically clear — that 95% of people, family and friends, took me as a joke. Not even the university, even me. They felt I was committed to something that was not achievable, that was not doable.
Nobody believed me. Even stakeholders were casting doubt. They said, “A university? How serious are they about it? Is it another white elephant project?”
So I think that is the foundation on which I was able to rely to build this. I think I am a person that loves challenges. I’ve said this in many fora before — that when I was appointed, I was appointed to nowhere. I was appointed through an interview; quite a number of us were interviewed by a then-engaged consultant. But when I was appointed, the only thing that was given to me was a record — just the name of the university.
There was no single developed structured concept note, not a single one. No academic brief. So it was that early doubt that people had that became the thrust that propelled me to really get this university onto its footing. And we’re just starting.
The greatest thing is the support that we’re getting from the Honourable Ministers in particular, and in general, the entire aviation stakeholders, especially the heads of agencies in the aviation industry.
We’ve been enjoying massive support from them, and it is on that note that we have been able to really shame the doubting Thomases. I think we’re on the right track — not only in Nigeria, but even internationally our recognition is soaring so high. Anywhere you talk about global aviation education, AAAU is being mentioned, not only in Nigeria, not only in Africa.
We have been able to put a lot of people to shame. Many people cannot come into my office today because they know what they told me, all the names they called me, all the positions they associated me with. I believe I’ve been able to put them to shame.
For the stakeholders, yes, I think being Nigerians, once beaten twice shy — we’ve had quite a number of establishments that later became mushroom institutions. But what we did, especially the pioneer set of staff of this university, is that we took ownership of the institution. We aligned it with our names, we gave out our necks — which means if it fails, we are also failures. So we gave it our best.
For more than five months there was no salary. Why? Because there was no structure; nobody knew what to even pay us. There were no offices; there was nothing. When I say nothing, I mean absolutely nothing. The government only had the audacious plan to have a pan-African aviation institution.
So I think we’re just beginning, and more people are still doubting. But as of today, by the grace of God, we have 300-level students. That means we have 100-level, 200-level, and 300-level students. So in the next 15 months, we should be talking about our first graduation — students that have passed through this institution, going for NYSC and postgraduate studies.
Q:
That will be the first set of graduates that will attend NYSC?
A:
Yes, and we are talking about those who will graduate before the end of 2027. I think on that day, I will also need to wear a graduation gown because I really deserve it. Most of us have given our all.
If I didn’t know there was a failure, we would have been associated with that failure. But today, my identity has changed. My personality has advanced so high.
We have been at par with institutions that have existed for 10 to 20 years — and mind you, we are less than 10 years in existence. So, glory be to God.
Q:
Let’s talk about the recent foundation-laying ceremony for the school’s permanent site.?
A:
Yes, I think that is one of the highlights of this institution. On the 21st of July, 2024, the Honourable Minister and his team were at the permanent site that was secured under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
We were able to secure a 200-hectare land. Funding was secured for building the premier structures. TETFund was also strongly in the picture to support what the ministry was doing.
The groundbreaking was done on the 24th of July, 2024. But due to technicalities and paperwork with landowners, construction didn’t actually begin until November 2024.
As of today, being 22nd of October 2025, we are still less than a year in, but if you visit that permanent site, we have over seven structures that are virtually completed — you can even sleep in them today.
We’re already at the verge of moving from this temporary site to the permanent one, where the 2km internal road is almost completed, the power lines for electrification are nearly done. The project was planned to take about 20 months, but in less than 12 months, most structures are almost completed.
One of them is one of the biggest monolithic lecture theatre complexes in Nigeria for Aviation Business and Management. It can stand among the top five in the country.
In the next two or three months, we should be delighted to invite the general public for the official launching of that massive structure.
Q:
That means you’ll move to the permanent site soon?
A:
Yes, we are currently almost done with our phased movement to the permanent site. We are going to first occupy the School of Postgraduate Studies, which has about 23 offices en suite. Electric fittings and painting are already completed, so we should be at the permanent site before the end of December.
Q:
What are the needs in terms of manpower for this university?
A:
I think the challenge of manpower for this great university is one that might continue for the next ten years, because the university itself was established to address this gap.
We are training the next generation of managers and professionals within the industry. The university is not only for Nigerians; it is a pan-African institution.
Let me give you an example — one of the best hands in aviation management globally is a Nigerian based in Australia, Ms. Nnenna. Through our social media interaction, we engaged her as an external resource person.
Currently, for our postgraduate programmes, a substantial number of our resource persons are foreign-based. But ICT has advanced, so they are teaching from the comfort of their countries in Australia, Asia, and America.
We believe that in the next ten years, this university will become a centre for training the trainers — those who will drive the aviation and aerospace sector forward.
However, I call on industry players and experts — in NAMA, NCAA, NiMET, and other aviation bodies — to join us. NiMET, for example, has some of the most brilliant meteorology experts and PhD holders. We invite such professionals to come and contribute to this vision.
Q:
Let’s look at your partnership with other agencies and global bodies.
A:
For now, I don’t see our relationship with sister agencies as partnerships per se, but rather as mentorship. These agencies have supported us tremendously in our early years.
Our first MOU was with NiMET, where students and academics collaborate with the agency. We also have an MOU with NSIB — as you can see, this temporary site is hosted by them free of charge.
We also have MOUs with NCAT and other aviation agencies in Nigeria.
Internationally, we have active collaborations with:
French Civil Aviation University, Toulouse
Gulf Aviation Academy, Bahrain
ATOM in Dubai
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
De Montfort University, Leicester
Coventry University and Cranfield University in the UK
University College of Aviation, Malaysia
RMIT, Adelaide University, and Swinburne University, all in Australia
So we’re building a truly global academic network for aviation education.
Q:
What are your plans for the next three years?
A:
We’ve achieved all this because of the respect we receive from the Ministry and stakeholders for our autonomy and the confidence they have in us. The University Governing Council chaired by Alhaji Bukar Gumi Tofa has also given us immense support.
We just received the preliminary report from the National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation, and we did excellently well.
With continued autonomy and support, I believe the sky will only be our starting point. The future is bright — AAAU is on track to become one of the world’s leading institutions in aviation and aerospace education.
