AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME DELIVERD BY THE RECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NIGERIAN COLLEGE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY, (NCAT), ZARIA, DR DANJUMA ISMAILA, FCILT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE FACILITY VISIT BY MEDIA EDITORS AND REPORTERS TO NCAT HEADQUARTERS, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE ON FRIDAY, 17TH JULY, 2026

PROTOCOLS

On behalf of the Governing Board, Management and Staff, I welcome you all, the Gentlemen of the Press, to NCAT Corporate Headquarters in Zaria and the Media Briefing. Indeed it gives me great pleasure to once more have the opportunity to interact and interface with the members of the fourth estate of the realm, our critical stakeholders in the aviation industry. I believe you would enjoy your stay here and please feel free to let us know how you feel about our college, programmes, operations and the environment.

Historical Background

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, (formerly known as Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Center) was set up by Act. No 31 of 1964 (as amended), to conduct:

Civil Aviation courses for use in flight training or airport operations & management as may be prescribed from time to time.

Training of approved persons in the installation, maintenance and operation, as the case may be, of technical equipment, the use of which is calculated or likely to increase the margin of operational safety of civil aircrafts.

Training on equipment and necessary facilities for technical research or normal use.

The idea of a center for aviation training in Nigeria was first mooted at an International Forum, the 12th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, held in San Diego, California, USA, in 1959. The Federal Government of Nigeria then formally requested the United Nations Development Programme to appoint an expert to assess the actual requirements for the setting up of a Civil Aviation Training Center in Nigeria. The report of the project was approved in 1963, and a bill establishing a Center for Civil Aviation Training at Zaria, Nigeria, was passed by the Federal Legislature on 29th September, 1964, and signed into law on October 23, 1964.

The Center was established as a joint programme between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This joint programme of assistance from the UNDP and ICAO came to an end on 31st December 1974 and the Federal Government of Nigeria assumed full responsibility for the continued management and operation of the College.

In 1977, the Board of Governors of the College recommended to the Federal Government a change of name from NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION TRAINING CENTER (NCATC) to NIGERIAN COLLEGE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY (NCAT), in anticipation of expansion of training and related activities. Official approval did not come until 1986, when the Government issued a White Paper on the “Report of the Fact-Finding Panel into the Activities of the Civil Aviation Department in the Federal Ministry of Aviation”. The change of name was reflected in Decree No. 41 of 1990.

The College boasts of more than 50 years of experience in providing human resource development in the aviation industry in Africa and is well on its way to becoming a reputable global provider of aviation training. NCAT undertakes training programmes to meet both national and international requirements. Training is also provided in non-aviation-specific areas such as computer equipment maintenance and satellite communication principles.

Since its inception, NCAT has produced well over 20,000 professionals in the aviation industry in Nigeria and beyond.

SCHOOLS

The College has the following Schools

· Aeronautical Telecommunication Engineering

· Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

· Aviation Management

· Air traffic Management/ Communication

· Aerodrome Safety and Engineering

· Instructional Systems Design/ICAO

It is interesting to inform you that our aviation training programmes adhere to ICAO standards and recommended practices. The College has recently enhanced its facilities with a Boeing 737NG Simulator, a 3D Visual Tower Simulator, a fleet of Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft, a Live Fire-Fighting Simulator, a Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Trainer, a Solar Thermal Energy Training System, a Gas Turbine Engine Trainer, and a TBM 850 aircraft for flight training, among others.

NCAT is a member of ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS, supporting the ICAO vision of standardizing and enhancing aviation training globally. The College is also accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International(AABI) USA, the National Council for Management Development (NCDB) for management training accreditation, and the National Board for Technical Education. In addition, NCAT has reactivated its membership with the West African Management Development Institutes Network (WAMDEVIN) and revived affiliation with IATA. Beyond our regular programmes, we offer customized courses tailored to specific organizational needs, which can also be delivered on-site. NCAT provides an excellent, peaceful, safe, and healthy environment for learning. You are welcome on board.

The College has since the assumption of office of the current leadership in 2025 made significant advancements. Key milestones include:

Global ICAO Recognition: NCAT recently proved its name as the Center of Excellence on the global stage by retaining the Platinum Status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) TRAINAIR PLUS Programme. At the concluded Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025 in Morocco, NCAT was awarded the prestigious Platinum Member status in the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Programme. The College retained its prestigious International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Training Centre of Excellence (TCE) Platinum Status for the sixth consecutive year NCAT retains ICAO platinum status.

This remarkable achievement solidifies NCAT’s position as a leader in aviation training, recognized for its commitment to high standards and innovative educational practices. The new Platinum status will be effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027, ensuring that NCAT continues to shine as a beacon of excellence in the international aviation community. With this recognition, NCAT remains a leader in developing world-class aviation professionals, further enhancing Nigeria’s reputation in global aviation training

Regional Award: The college received an ICAO award for Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Professionals Training in the West and Central African (WACAF) Region Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Nigeria.

Decentralization: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the decentralization of NCAT, with plans to expand campuses across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to increase national training capacity.

Simulator Upgrades: NCAT made strides in restoring its grounded Boeing 737NG simulator NCAT Nears Full Restoration Of Grounded Training Aircraft and acquired additional advanced simulators to bolster training capabilities.

Accreditations & Curriculum: The college successfully finalized accreditations and facility verifications from bodies like the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Centre for Management Development (CMD) NCAT Successfully Completes CMD Accreditation Verification. The verification exercise, conducted on March 19, 2025, was a crucial step in ensuring that NCAT meets the required standards for accreditation. The CMD team carried out a comprehensive assessment of the infrastructure, training facilities, and compliance with regulatory documentation. The accreditation process reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to maintaining excellence in aviation training. Indeed, the successful completion of this verification marks another milestone in NCAT’s continuous pursuit of quality and compliance with national and international aviation training standards.

These are but very few remarkable developments in the College in the las one year and half. I shall be willing to entertain questions (if any) on any above or other issues you may need clarification.

Once more I thank you all for the visit and wish you safe journey as you return to your various destinations

DR. DANJUMA ISM

AILA

RECTOR/CHIEF EXCEUTIVE