Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has praised Comrade Isaac Balami for founding a private university specializing in aviation, highlighting it as a significant milestone that will draw more supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the launch of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Keyamo emphasized that the “transfer window” remains open for those interested in joining the APC, encouraging Balami to spearhead political mobilisation efforts in Borno State.
Reflecting on Balami’s ambition and drive, the minister recounted how the young entrepreneur first shared his vision for an aviation-focused university shortly after Keyamo assumed office.
“Soon after I was appointed Minister of Aviation, Isaac Balami was among the first to visit me. Around his 39th birthday, he revealed his plans for the aviation sector, mentioning his newly established MRO in Lagos and the upcoming university,” Keyamo recalled.
He expressed admiration for Balami’s bold initiative at a relatively young age and committed to supporting the project until it gained official approval.
“This achievement adds to my accomplishments as Minister of Aviation. I can confidently say I’ve contributed a unique milestone in this sector. It aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s focus on bolstering the private sector and enhancing human capital development-two pillars of our five-point agenda,” Keyamo stated.
Keyamo described IBUAM as a groundbreaking institution, the first in Africa to integrate a flight school, aviation professional training, and an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center within a single establishment.
Hon. Midala Balami, representing Askira Uba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also lauded the university’s founder, portraying him as a beacon of perseverance and resolve. He asserted that the inauguration of IBUAM has diminished political opposition in Borno State and paved the way for President Tinubu’s anticipated success in 2027.
“Isaac Balami has effectively completed 40 to 50 percent of the groundwork for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign,” he remarked.
Comrade Isaac Balami, in his address, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, Minister Keyamo, Seyi Tinubu, Captain Chris Najomo, and others who played vital roles in bringing the project to fruition. He emphasized his commitment to investing in Nigeria despite the prevalent brain drain, driven by a deep desire to contribute to national development.
Sharing his personal journey, Balami revealed how his parents sacrificed by selling their assets to fund his education.
“This university is more than a conventional tertiary institution; it is linked to an aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility in Lagos. Our mission is to graduate 21-year-olds equipped to operate independently anywhere in the world,” he explained.
He urged state governments, ministries, agencies, and political figures to provide scholarships for students, assuring that the university’s profits would be reinvested into the community through his Foundation.
Additionally, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, announced scholarships for 100 female students enrolling at the university, underscoring that empowering women in strategic sectors aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda for gender inclusion and national progress.
The ceremony was graced by notable figures, including Captain Chris Najomo, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), alongside senators, permanent secretaries, and industry leaders.
