Nigeria Eyes Aviation Pact with Irish Flight School

The Federal Government may be seeking a Newcastle-NCAT aviation collaboration to improve domestic training capacity and aviation manpower development in Nigeria. Discussions between the Nigerian delegation and the school’s management centred on fostering strategic collaboration between Newcastle Aerodrome Aviation School and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. The engagement took place on the sidelines of the 8th Africa-Ireland Trade Horizon Conference, held in Dublin.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, led the Nigerian delegation to the school located in Wicklow County. According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media. Keyamo was accompanied by the Charge D’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, Mrs. Ibiyemi Ajiboye-Roberts. The team was received by Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle Aerodrome, Mr. John Nugent.

During the technical tour, the Honourable Minister inspected key facilities including the school’s fleet of Viper SD4 trainer aircraft. He also visited its simulation labs, classrooms, and aircraft maintenance hangars.

Talks focused on a potential Newcastle-NCAT aviation collaboration. The aim is to jointly develop a globally aligned aviation training curriculum that reflects current industry demands.

Other proposed areas of partnership include a bilateral pilot licensing programme to enhance cross-border certification, as well as training for aircraft engineers and air traffic controllers. These areas are seen as critical to supporting Nigeria’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.

The Minister commended the school’s operational model and expressed Nigeria’s willingness to establish institutional ties that promote knowledge transfer and boost the local aviation value chain.

Speaking at the Trade Horizon Conference earlier, the Minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening aviation partnerships. He said international collaboration is key to fulfilling the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in infrastructure and skill development.

According to him, Nigeria remains open to partnerships that support indigenous institutions like the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria. He noted that improving NCAT’s global relevance is essential for building sustainable industry capacity.

The visit also reflects Nigeria’s broader strategy to reposition itself as a regional aviation hub through modern training, safety compliance, and human capital development.

Newcastle Aerodrome is recognised for its practical aviation training structure and capacity to produce internationally licensed pilots and engineers. Its collaboration with NCAT is expected to deepen bilateral education ties between both countries.

With its pivotal role in West Africa, NCAT stands to benefit from such alliances that enable shared resources, certification upgrades, and modernised curriculum delivery.