From Suleiman Amagbor, Lagos
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), two institutions domiciled in Nigeria have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they said is aimed at fostering cooperation on training to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents in the Nigeria and the continent’s transport sector.
An official told our correspondent that the AAAU is the first Pan-African university dedicated to aviation, aerospace, and environmental science with the mandate to address two critical needs within the continent’s industry.
The official names the mandate to include tackling the research and development gap in Africa’s aviation and aerospace sector while simultaneously cultivating a skilled workforce to propel it forward.
At the signing ceremony at the NSIB Training School in Abuja, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NSIB Captain Alex Badeh Jr. said that the MoU sets the stage for facility sharing, capacity building, and collaboration between the Bureau and AAAU.
As part of its support, NSIB has granted AAAU access to its facilities, facilitating an efficient exchange of resources and expertise, and further solidifying the commitment to mutual advancement in aviation safety in Africa.
Badeh said “I am confident that this MoU will enhance the effectiveness of our collaboration and commitment to promoting safer skies and operational excellence in the aviation industry in Nigeria and beyond,” Captain Badeh remarked.
In his remarks, the Registrar of AAAU, who was represented by the Director of Physical Planning and Works, Engineer Masud Aliyu Yerima, commended the NSIB’s invaluable support and partnership,
Yerima said “The journey of AAAU’s establishment and progress would have faced considerable challenges without NASIB’s generous support.”
He commended Capt. Badeh for his exemplary leadership and steadfast dedication in propelling NSIB to greater heights and the institution’s readiness to engage in mutually beneficial endeavours with NSIB and ensuring the successful realisation of shared objectives.
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NSIB, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji told journalists that the partnership marks a significant milestone in fostering a culture of safety and excellence within Nigeria’s aviation sector, adding that both NSIB and AAAU are poised to leverage the synergy for the benefit of the industry and the nation at large.
