The Federal University of Transportation, Daura, has participated in the Centenary Celebration of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), where it emphasized on its strategic intervention in Aviation Management.The celebration which commences on Thursday, 30th October, 2025, at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport marks the 100-year Anniversary of the first Aircraft Landing in Nigeria at Kano.
A statement signed by Umar Usman, Chief Information and Communication officer of the university, said the programmes outlined for the event were; Exhibition, Static Aircrafts Display, Panel Discussion and Lecture Presentations.
Presenting a paper on behalf of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Hon. Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal, mni, represented by the Director Academic Planning and Monitoring, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar, highlighted the importance of non-flight services in aviation.
The paper titled, “Beyond the Runway: Building Human Capacity for Non-Flight Services in Nigeria’s Aviation Ecosystem”, detailed that, the backbone of aviation are non-flight services and its success depends on ground operations, logistics, safety, and customer service.
He explained that, the Passenger-Related Non-flight Services included, Check-in and Baggage Handling, Security Screening, Immigration and Customs Services, Airport Lounges, Information and Customer Service Desks, Porterage Services, Ground Transportation Services, Medical and Emergency Services and Special Assistance Services.
Other services according to him were, commercial and retails services, cargo and logistics services as well as administrative and support services.“Non-flight personnel on the other hand ensure efficiency, security, and passenger comfort”, the Vice-Chancellor said.
He then identified current gaps in Nigeria’s Aviation Service to include, limited specialized training institutions, outdated curricula in related programs, inconsistent professional standards, poor career visibility for non-flight personnel, high dependence on foreign training and weak collaboration between academia and service providers.He said that, the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, is committed to developing skilled professionals to remedy and fill the identified gaps.
According to him, the strategic interventions of the University in Aviation Management were, introduction of specialized degree programmes in Aviation Management, establishment of simulation and logistics laboratories, and partnership with NCAT, FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, caliphate Aviation Training Centre and private service providers.
He said that the University plans to establish FUTD Centre for Aviation Services and Logistics which would serve as a multidisciplinary hub for research and workforce training and the focus areas would be on: airport services, logistics, safety, ICT, support to FAAN, NCAA, and NAMA in capacity building, and consultancy for airlines and service contractors.
He then recommended for the conduct of a national manpower audit in non-flight aviation sectors with the aim of establishing modular certification and continuous training frameworks, encouraging academia–industry partnerships for human capacity development, funding applied research on safety, logistics, and passenger experience and incentivizing innovation and youth entrepreneurship within the airport ecosystem.
He concluded his presentation by stressing the readiness of the FUTD in developing this critical workforce, while urging all stakeholders to contribute their own quota so that together Nigerian airports could be transformed.
