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By Tracy Moses
The Federal Government has officially presented an operating license to the newly approved Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, paving the way for the immediate commencement of academic activities at the institution.
The license, presented by the National Universities Commission (NUC), follows a recent approval granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja, effectively ending a four-year wait for the institution’s operational clearance.
The development has generated so much excitement across the country, particularly among Nigerian youths familiar with the philanthropic work of the university’s founder, Comrade Isaac Balami.
At the license presentation ceremony held on Wednesday at the NUC headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, charged the promoters of the new institution, and ten others who received similar approvals, to uphold national interest, integrity, and professionalism in their academic and administrative practices.
Describing the event as a milestone in Nigeria’s educational advancement, Ribadu commended the vision, resilience, and dedication of the institutions’ founders for their efforts in strengthening the nation’s tertiary education landscape.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, also addressed the license recipients, urging them to focus on delivering high-quality education while maintaining strong collaborative ties with the government to meet national development goals.
Speaking to journalists after the event, an elated Isaac Balami expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu, crediting him with breaking what he termed a four-year “jinx.”
“The President has shown extraordinary commitment to education. What was delayed for four years became possible within just two years of his administration. It’s truly remarkable,” Balami stated.
Balami, an aviation entrepreneur and founder of 7Star Global Hangar, one of Nigeria’s leading aircraft maintenance facilities, revealed that he conceived the idea of the university at the age of 35, despite skepticism about its feasibility.
“For years, I was told it would never happen. But God used President Tinubu to make it possible, just before I turn 41,” he said. “This is not my university, it belongs to all Nigerians. I’m just a child of nobody who God decided to lift.”
He added that with the institution now ready to commence operations, the dream of building Nigeria’s first locally assembled aircraft could soon become a reality.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Jemitola, also assured stakeholders of the university’s preparedness, noting that his extensive aviation and academic experience across Europe, America, and other regions will be instrumental in grooming the next generation of Nigerian aviation experts.
In a show of international interest, Alvin Atsegwasi, representative of 88 foreign student recruitment agents, lauded the university’s strategic location in Lagos and disclosed that inquiries had already begun pouring in from parents in Europe and North America.
“This is a jet about to take off,” Atsegwasi said, describing the development as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s aviation and education sectors.