The International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority have recertified the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Kaduna state.
The Acting Rector of the college, Joseph Imalighwe, disclosed this in a statement.
He described the achievement as beneficial for the training institution, emphasising that his mission was to elevate NCAT to a point where training would be restructured. As the college transitions away from traditional training methods, it is moving towards a digital model.
He added that NCAT was partnering with some other training institutions and universities to improve its curriculum.
He said, “The ICAO Centre of Excellence regional officials just came to recertify us after three years. We did recertification with ICAO after three years and they wrote very good things about the college.
“Even the NCAA came a week after the ICAO officials came to recertify us. We have smooth sailing with those organisations. In spite of the short period training has been sustained, the college has undergone tremendous improvement in areas of facility upgrade and development of new ones, staff has been undergoing various training. We are trying to sustain it.
“We have just bought Zaria Hotel because we understand the limitation of accommodations within the college. The contractor is starting renovation work. The hostels are not enough and the building of our 150 guest rooms, the contractor has taken possession of the place so that he will start.”
The acting rector called on the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to increase allocation to the college to enable it to meet its capital project expenditure.
He affirmed that its status as ICAO TrainAir Plus Training Centre Excellence required more resources to continuously improve the college.
Imalighwe recalled several achievements but appealed for major funding to complete some capital projects that will ensure it meets the requirements of its students.
According to the NCAT rector, the college also currently faces challenges ranging from inadequate training facilities like hostel accommodation and classrooms, the high cost of aviation gasoline and an inadequate number of required specialised instructors due to high attrition to the industry.
Other complaints include encroachment on the college land, security of college premises, aged college buildings, and inadequate budgetary envelope to mention but a few.
“We want the Federal Government to increase our funding, particularly in the areas of capital projects. Our budget envelope is way too small considering the ongoing project we have at hand. “The college has an annual budget envelope of an average of N3b and the ongoing project that the college has triples that. So, it will require more funding to enable us to achieve our objectives to take the college to greater heights,” he noted.
