With just seven days to the end of the present regime, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, for the second time announced that academic activities of the proposed African Aviation and Aerospace University will commence in September 2023.
This is as the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nile University of Nigeria for the commencement of the 2023/2024 academic activities of the institution.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this while signing the MoU with Nile University, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Sirika had last year announced that the African Aviation and Aerospace University will commence registration for the 2022/2023 academic session on September 26 to November 18, 2022.
Signing the MoU last Wednesday in Abuja, the minister said the university will help address the research and development gaps in the aviation sector, adding that it will begin academic activities offering BSc courses in Aviation Business and Meteorology.
Sirika also mentioned that the university has hired its management staff and created an academic brief while noting that there are plans to privatise the university in the future for greater effectiveness.
He said, “The university ought to have happened a long time ago because it is part of our roadmap in 2016 that was approved by the president and this is just to go straight into research and development in civil aviation and aerospace and of course environmental sciences.
“This university has received attention all over the world. The first of its kind in Africa and by the grace of God, it would be one of the top universities in the world. I’m also very sure that we may even go into aviation medicine in the near future.
“It is dedicated to those core mandates of aerospace aviation and environmental sciences. It is intended to attend to the huge demands we have in this sub-region of ours and indeed continentally especially as Africa is looking to unite, integrate and become one entity in all fields and human endeavours.
He added, “I’m happy to say that the academic brief has been developed, the management staff have been employed and of course, it will be governed by the Federal Government but will be owned and operated by the private sector through PPP arrangement.”
“I’m sure in the long run, it will end up being truly private sector but the government needs to ground it fully to ensure that the take-off does not suffer any hitch.
“The university will run both physical and online courses. These days, universities are turning virtual and we will begin with the Bsc Aviation Business and Bsc Meteorology and of course, continue to grow.
Also, not too far from now, we will be getting approval from NUC to commence Master of Science in Aviation Management.

“Nile will provide support for the undergraduate programme for the first two years and it is expected that more research and collaboration will be established between the AAAN and NUN.”

He further stated that many countries, universities, and organisations around the world including the International Civil Aviation Organisation have indicated interest to partner with the aviation university and offer some support.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. Dilli Dogo, promised to tender full support to the aviation university with all it requires for a smooth take-off.

Dogo went on to commend the minister for the initiative saying that the minister and his team were determined to see that the university would take off as soon as possible.

“The initial plan was that it will take off in the 2022/2023 academic session but because of bureaucracies of government processes, it was not possible to complete the due process required for us to actualisé what we started.

“The initial understanding which is subsisting is the fact that 100 and 200 and part of 300 level academic activities take place here and the rest will take place in NiMet and part of it will take place in the school of Aviation Kaduna, Zaria.

“To us, we are privileged and indeed pleased to be part of this momentous occasion and we look forward to actively participating in the delivery of this brand new university that seeks to positively impact Nigerians and indeed the African continent.”

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The Elite club of Nigeria (an Omuanwa-based community development Association) has honoured the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof Prince Chinedu Mmom through the public presentation of a book titled “The Chronicle”, Reflections on the Life and Ideas of Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom to honour him.
Speaking at the public presentation of the book at Community Secondary School Omuanwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area the chairman of the occasion who doubled as the Community Development Committee chairman (CDC) Mr. Chinnah Ugo Kingsley said  Prof Mmom, as an academic personality has left his footprints on the sands of time and that the book serve as an honour to him and everything he stands for.
In his keynote address, the president of the Elite Club of Nigeria, Rev Fr. John Iheanacho represented by Kelachi Anokwuru described Prof. Mmom  as a worthy son of the community, who has contributed enormously to the advancement of the academic world through his scholarly research,  teaching and community service with particular attention to geography and environmental management.
Anokwuru who described  Prof. Mmom as a living  legend said the book which contains a compilation of the life, ideas, moral values, academic attainments, among others descriptions so as to encourage other well meaning sons and daughters of the community to position themselves on the pathway of success in order to achieve uncommon feat in their chosen careers.
Responding, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Prince Chinedu Mmom said for a book to be written and launched in his honour was something he could not have imagined would ever happens to him looking at where he was coming from.
In his words, “Standing here today to address you gives me a nostalgia. for a book to be written and launched in my honour gives me mix feelings, but I return all the glory to God. What am enjoying today is the mercies of God. I’m not the first  to become a professor and as well Honourable Commissioner for Education, but it  pleases God to make me whom I am at a time like this.
Mmom charged that there is no short cut to academics, adding that if you must make it to the top, you must avoid distractions, saying: “As an accomplished academia, he has paid his dues as a  distinguished Professor, remarking that he is blessed being the son of Omuanwa community and the community is also blessed to have a son like him.
“As the first Professor of my community and being honoured with a book that talks about me in such a captivating title means a lot to me as it was written by elites from my community  and I truly appreciate and thank you all for recognising my efforts and giving me and other distinguished members of the community awards of merit and hardwork.”

Rivers State Government has suspended the Principal of Government Secondary school, Borikiri, Mr. Ella Ewoh for collecting money from 61 external students in place of the bonifade  students, thereby denying the legitimate students the opportunity to write their examinations.
Speaking to newsmen during monitoring of the on going Senior Secondus School Examination in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom added that the suspension would serve as deterrent to others.
He explained that the Rivers State Government, under the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, has paid all WAEC fees for students both indigenes and non-indigenes, adding that any Principal caught collecting money in any form will face the full wrath of the law.
“Information reaching me is that some schools, the Principals and some of the staff forced the students to pay certain money for what I do not know, this is illegal and we frown at that. Any principal, any supervisor,  any invigilator, any teacher that is caught will be shown the way out.
“I want to re-emphasise that students are not to pay any money to be admitted into any examination hall. The examination hall has been paid for by the Rivers State Government, so, we are sending our people to monitor this examination across the State on daily basis, so, any person or group of persons that are culprits will be handed over to security agencies, so they are disciplined according to the law,” Mmom said.
The commissioner while encouraging students to remain focused and committed to their studies, and work hard said, there is no short cut to success.
“I started the way you are today, but today, I am a Professor and the commissioner for Education and I am sure some of you want to be Commissioner in the state as time goes on, but know that there is no short cut, so all that is expected of you is to work very hard. I encourage you to study very assiduously, do your assignments and read your books.”
The Tide reports that the schools visited included Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme, Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo and Model Secondary School, G.R.A., Port Harcourt.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana