The management of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria has taken bold tsteps to address issues of infrastructural gaps at the college just as it has also keyed into International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) policy on decarbonisation.
This was made known on Monday in Zaria by the Rector/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria’s premier aviation college, Dr. Danjuma Adamu Ismaila while declaring open, the 2025 Training Course of League of Airports & Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).
Besides, addressing the training related infrastructural gaps, Ismaila said the College has also found the need to ensure reduction of capital flight associated with training of aviation professionals abroad.
On infrastructure development, he said NCAT has commenced the building of a 150 room capacity hostel accommodation for its students.
He added that airlines are looking forward to NCAT’s acquisition of more flight simulators in addition to the B737 Simulator.
On decarbonisation, the Rector affirmed, “We are looking at switching to cleaner energy sources and converting our vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG). These steps won’t just help the environment, they’ll also create financial opportunities through carbon credits”.
On training, Ismaila said NCAT recently graduated some Air Traffic Controllers from French Speaking countries, who came to the college to learn aviation English.
The Rector added that the College is also intensifying efforts to modernise its training infrastructure with plans to acquire an ERJ-145 full flight simulator,
According to him, the ERJ-145 simulator will complement the recently acquired Boeing 737 full flight simulator and is part of a broader plan to ensure pilots across different aircraft types can conduct recurrent training locally, in line with global safety requirements.
According to him, “most aviation professionals, especially pilots, must undergo simulator training every six months to renew their licences,” the Rector stated. “We have already acquired the Boeing 737 simulator and are finalising plans to procure the ERJ-145, the second most commonly flown aircraft in Nigeria.”
He stressed that these simulators will significantly reduce the need for local airlines to send their personnel abroad for mandatory training, thereby saving costs and foreign exchange.
In his speech, the Chairman LAAC, Mr. Idris Suleiman said the entire aviation industry in Nigeria has benefited immensely from the relationship between LAAC and NCAT over the years, expressing confidence that “this year’s training will further boost professionalism in our reportage and practice as aviation media practitioners and journalists while further empowering us to play our role as the fourth estate of the realm.”
He said the training course is an opportunity to deepen understanding, strengthen professional ethics, and explore new trends in global aviation, adding that “the global aviation industry has in recent times, witnessed fluctuations and undeniable changes in the level of patronage, expectations and realignments. Airlines and regulatory authorities have had to review business decisions and policies. The toughness of the global economy was reflected in aircraft fleet renewals, cancellation of aircraft orders, changes in delivery dates by manufacturers and other effects.
“Back home in Nigeria, despite the challenges of excruciating airlines operating cost, operational and environmental constraints, more local airlines have received Air Operators’ Certificates (AOC) within the last one year according to the NCAA while some other AOCs are being processed.
“The vision of investment in airports in the form of concessions is being piloted by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. These and other developments call for more training in the sector and they represent more opportunities for NCAT to harvest the ripe field of training adventures in the industry. As a nation, there exist opportunities for Nigeria to make progress in terms of its aviation development.
LAAC therefore wishes to use this forum in the spirit of patriotism, to appeal to the various stakeholders and aviation authorities in the country to sustain their commitment towards the overall development of the sector.”
He pledged LAAC’s continued support for NCAT “in pursuing its goals and objectives and ensuring that NCAT asserts its rightful position in the global aviation training market.”
Suleiman equally commended NCAT management “for the unhidden improvements in infrastructure around the college. But there is still room for improvements though as we have only stepped into the second quarter of the year .
