As global demand for aviation training rises, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has opened up on the institution’s pressing infrastructure and staffing challenges, even as enrolment surges and regional demand intensifies.
In an exclusive interview, the Rector highlighted his mandate to reposition NCAT for financial independence and international relevance. “The college has the potential to serve all the training needs of the aviation industry, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa and beyond,” he said. NCAT operates under ICAO standards, meaning certifications issued through Nigeria’s NCAA are globally recognized — as valid as those issued by the UK CAA or FAA.
However, the surge in enrolment is clashing with inadequate infrastructure. “One of our major challenges is accommodation,” the Rector lamented. “We’re forced to house students off-campus due to limited space. If this continues, it will hinder our growth.
The college is expecting new participants from Egypt by mid-June and recently hosted students from French-speaking African nations seeking aviation English training.’’
The Rector underscored the urgency of upgrading facilities: “Many of our buildings date back to the 1960s. They need to be modernized to meet international standards. A student familiar with global institutions won’t take us seriously if we don’t match that level.”
On the simulator front, NCAT is preparing to activate its B737 flight simulator — the most widely used aircraft type in Nigeria.
‘’Pilots from Asia and Nigeria are currently queuing in Dubai for training. Once our simulator goes live, they’ll start queuing here instead,” he said, adding that it will be a major source of foreign exchange.
The Rector also decried the loss of skilled staff to better-paying private airlines, noting NCAT’s status as the lowest-paying aviation agency in the country. To stem the tide, he plans to introduce training bonds and is advocating for a special salary scale through the Salaries and Wages Commission. “If the oil industry could do it for the Petroleum Training Institute, the aviation sector should do the same for NCAT,” he argued.
On future projections, he said meaningful targets can only be set once the government provides funding support. “We’re working to close funding gaps. If we can operationalize all critical equipment, including the simulator, we’ll have a solid base to scale up our training capacity by 2025.”
