Dr Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, Registrar of African Aviation and Aerospace University, AAAU, Abuja
African Aviation and Aerospace University, AAAU, Abuja, Nigeria, in its three years of exitence has made great strides from ground zero.
Below is an excerpt from the chat with the university’s pioneer Registrar, Dr Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi. Enjoy the narrative-;
Question: Despite AAAU still being in its infancy, are there any pleasant narratives you can share for the general public’s delight?
Answer- Thank you very much. I was appointed through an interview conducted by a consulting firm on behalf of the federal government. Quite a number of us were interviewed. When I was appointed, the only thing that was given to me was a record. It was only the name of the university. There was no single developed edifice. Not even a note on the university’s project concept. Not a single one. No academic brief. So, that situation created doubt in people’s minds. However, that condition became the catalyst that propelled me to perceive the situation as a challenge to overcome, paving the way for success stories to break forth.
Question: How did friends, acquaintances, and family members view your acceptance of the appointment? Were they excited?
Answer- I think I need to tell you this categorically clear that, 95% of people, family and friends, took me for a joke. They felt I am committed to something that is not achievable, that is not doable. Nobody believed me. Even stakeholders were expressing doubts. An aviation university? Which is the model in Nigeria? Where is the model in Africa? Was the government serious about it? Would it not turn out to be another white elephant project? Those were the barrage of expletives I was inundated with.
There was no single physical development. No note about the concept. Not a single one. No academic brief. So, it was like sitting next to Nellie. Hence, from that very early beginning, there were grains of doubt sown in the minds of pioneer staff. Those issues raised as bases for doubt were what propelled me to be able to really get this university to its solid footing.
The pioneer students on the maiden matriculation and parents, students and the university’s representatives forum
Another salt added to the seemingly festering injury was that, for more than five months, salary was not paid. Why were there no salaries? Because there were no structures. Nobody knew what to even pay us, you know. And so we kept moving on with faith and dint of hard work. There were no offices, there was nothing, I mean nothing, when I said nothing.
Question: What, and how, did you leverage upon to navigate through the headwinds as they were at the beginning?
Answer-: Whatever we’re having today in this nascent institution is a collective effort of the entire staff, the students, especially the pioneer students of this university.
Because without the collective efforts, without the commitment and sacrifices that every one of us made, we wouldn’t have been where we are today.
And, the greatest thing is the support we’re getting from the Honourable Ministers in particular, and in general, the entire aviation stakeholders, including most especially the heads of the agencies in the aviation industry.
From the onset, we understood the power of collective responsibility. We understood the benefits of not operating in silos.
Question: After those teething challenges, were there cheerful narratives you can share now?
Answer-: I think we’re just beginning, and more people are still doubting but, as at today, by the special grace of God, we have students in the 300 level. Which means we have 100 level, we have 200 level.
So, in the next 15 months, we should be talking about the plans for a befitting inaugural convocation ceremony. We would be talking of students who have passed through this institution, and are getting ready for service with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) one-year program. Thereafter, we would have those progressing to their Master’s program at AAAU, yes.
Permit me to sound prophetic at this juncture. On the maiden convocation ceremony fast-approaching, we are talking about those who will graduate before the end of 2027. I think on the graduation day, I will also need to wear a graduation gown because, I think, I really deserve it.
Did you of recent notice that my personality has advanced so high? We have been at our wits’ end to have outpaced other institutions that have been in existence for about 10, or say 20 years, ahead of AAAU. And mind you, we are less than 10 years in existence. So, glory be to God.
Question: Not too long ago, there was sod turning for massive physical development at the permanent site. How far is the project implementation now?
Answer- I think that is one of the highlights of this institution. On the 24th of July, 2024, the Honourable Minister and his team were at the permanent site, which was secured through the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr Festus Keyamo.
The university was able to secure a 200 hectares of land. Funding was secured for physical development through TELFUND, which is in the picture to strongly support what the ministry is already doing. So on 24th of July that was when the groundbreaking was done but because of technicalities, the challenge in family land documentation, and the landowners going back and forth on erstwhile mutual aggreement, construction didn’t actually start until November 2024.
However, as of today, being 22nd of October 2025, we are still less than a year, but i wish you could spare a moment to dash to the permanent site and see things for yourself. We have over seven structures erected. And today, you can sleep in each one of the seven edifices. They are virtually completed. That’s why we’re already at the verge of taking occupancy and moving away from this temporary site to the permanent site.
Also of note is that the two kilometers internal roads are almost completed. Installations of the power lines for electrification are almost completed. Evidence that the project pace is even faster than what was stipulated as the duration for project execution at the beginning of construction.
Recall that the stipulated duration for the construction is between 18 and 20+ months but in less than 12 months almost all the construction is about to be completed.
Staff of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in a group photograph at JOGOR hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State, for a training facilitated by AAAU, Abuja
The lecture theatre when completed would be one of the biggest monolithic structures that we have for lecture theatres in Nigeria. It will be delivered with the state of the art technology for utmost convenience.
So, we are eager to move to the new complex in the next two months. Kudos to the contractors, and our department of works and physical planning for their extensive oversight in ensuring these things are done correctly, in accordance with architectural design, and in a timely manner.
Question: Would everyone vacate this temporary site for the uncompleted permanent site?
Answer- Yes. The gradual relocation to the permanent site has even begun. At the site, the school of Post Graduate Studies, which has about 23 offices, en-suite, is almost ready. Painting is completed. Electrical fittings are being installed. Before the university proceeds on December break, we must have taken occupancy.
Question: How’re you coping with the dearth of experienced, skilled manpower challenge, both for academic and non-academic staff, taking cognisance of ICAO and NCAA endorsements in some aspects of training?
Answer- Let me sum up the response with a practical example. One of the best hands we have in aviation management, as a program, in the world, is currently in Australia. She’s a Nigerian. I can’t really remember her full name, but I think Ms. Nnenna or something like that. But it was through our social media interaction with her that she was able to know the institution, and she shared her resume.
It is so fascinating. And we are doing all we can now to engage her, even while she’s there in Australia, she would be an external resource person for us. For example, our postgraduate programs, quite a substantial amount of our members, our resource persons, are foreign-based. But because we are in 2025, ICT has really advanced, also they are teaching from the comfort of their homes and offices in the diaspora, over there in Australia, Asia and the USA.
Question: Are those in the diaspora you placed premium upon, what about among those veterans presently engaged in the agencies and others who have retired but still enjoy good health and can impart knowledge?
Answer- This is a call to all well-meaning staff in all the aviation agencies. Mostly needed are those experienced in various aspects of air transport but are presently with NAMA, in NCAA, NCAT, NiMET, FAAN, and NSIB.
So, this is a great call especially to those with strong academic background, to call on us and discuss how those experiences could be imparted to the young trainees. So this is my big call, and this is my position on this.
L-R: Dr Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, Registrar, AAAU, Abuja; Dr Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation & Aerospace Development; Barr Festus Keyamo, Aviation & Aerospace Development Minister; Capt Chris Najomo, Director General Civil Aviation, DGCA, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, MD, FAAN; and a guest at an August event- File photo
Any partnership-: The university i think, for now, is not really in the position of partnership. Rather, the agencies are really supporting us. They are really mentoring us because, we are currently tapping from their repository of knowledge to advance what we have here.
Of course, we have quite a number of documented Memoranda of Understanding, MoU’s. Our first MOU was with NiMET. I will also have an MoU with NSIB. As you can see, this our temporary site we are seated here free of charge. You know this facility has a hostel facility for over 80 students. And we have classrooms here. Our offices are still here, within this building, so as you can see, we are very comfortable under the hospitality of NSIB. Moreover, we are staying free of charge, you know, just the power of MOU and the ministerial directive.
We also have an MOU with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, and quite other agencies, and other stakeholders within Nigeria and also beyond.
Barr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, performed the groundbreaking 24th July 2024, to flag off physical development at the AAAU permanent site, along Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja.
Question: Are there any partnerships with other international institutions and agencies?
Answer- Yes. We’re very, very passionate about international collaboration. That’s why we keep knocking on doors to ensure that we are heard, we are known, and we can kick-start potentially vibrant bio-collaborations.
The first of its kind we did was our Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the French Civil Aviation University, in Toulouse, France. We have an MOU, a very active MOU with Gulf Aviation Academy in Bahrain. We have one other aviation training site, which is like ATOM in Dubai. We are perfecting our documents for MBUD, the famous university for aviation in Daytona, Florida. USA.
We have also the Montfort University in London, in Alaska, Coventry University, and Cranfield University, one in England. So these are things that we’ve been able to achieve, under just three years of our existence. And these collaborations are very active, including that with the University College of Aviation in Malaysia.
And for now. We are partnering both with RMIT, a famous university for aviation in Australia, Adelaide University of Adelaide, and also Swinburne University, all in Australia.
Question: What is the staying power and where does the I can do it spirit comes from?
Answer- We’ve gone this far because of the mutual regard for the principle of non-interference upheld by the Ministry and other critical stakeholders. They really believed in us and actually demonstrated the meaning of the word autonomy.
Also, the free hand we enjoyed inspired wholesome initiatives to implement policies that culminated in creating positive trend. While the governing council of the university chaired by Alhaji Bukar Gumi Tofa, did not withhold approvals on requests for programs that would positively impact the growth and development of the university.
These are the signals indicating the future remains brighter. With the passage of time, and if this kind of freedom that gives the meaning to autonomy is sustained, or it’s without serious interference, i believe, the sky will be our starting point.
Question: What’s the outcome of the last inspection by the accreditation panel from the National University Commission, NUC, to AAAU temporary campus?
Answer- The preliminary report by the NUC accreditation panel is an indication of a highly commendable performance by the university. We did excellently well by the report of the accreditation team. Gaps unfolded has attracted the university attention and will be closed sooner than later.
Succinctly put, the report revealed we’ve crossed all the tough hurdles but, of course, there are some challenges here and there but some of them are beyond our own capacity so we certainly believe the future is very bright and that the university will be a university to beat globally and we are actively working towards ensuring that the future gets brighter.
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Very interesting achievement so far. Please accept my sincere congratulations. I wish the institution more success.