Agreement to Bring 10 Nigerian Aviation Students to Campus in January
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology and Nigeria’s Bauchi State signed an agreement in late November for students from Bauchi to enroll in Florida Tech aeronautics programs. Ten students will begin studies toward bachelor’s degree in January 2008.
Of the 10, three will major in aviation meteorology, four in aeronautical science and three will work toward degrees in aviation management. Their programs will be accelerated with projected graduation in 2011. All will also learn to fly with the goal of attaining the Federal Aeronautics Administration’s Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument, Multi-engine and Single-engine ratings.
The agreement signing was hosted on campus by Florida Tech Dean of the College of Aeronautics Kenneth Stackpoole. Provost T. Dwayne McCay signed the agreement, which was authored by Gary Hamme, Florida Tech vice provost for enrollment management. The event was attended by Nigerian government representatives His Excellency Garba Mohammed Gadi, deputy governor of Bauchi; Capt. Muhammad Jibrin, commissioner for Bauchi Public Works and Transportation; Sabo Ahmed Dagauda, assistant to the governor on multilateral agencies; and Ahmed Yarima, media assistant to the governor.
Jibrin, who is a 1984 Florida Tech graduate with a bachelor’s degree in aviation management with flight, was key to facilitating the agreement. He said, “As an alumnus of Florida Tech I cannot superintend a program for the training of pilots in any place other than my alma mater.”
Bauchi is one of 36 states in the African country of Nigeria.
PHOTO: Present at the agreement signing on campus were, from left: Sabo Ahmed Dagauda, assistant to the governor of Bauchi on multilateral agencies; Capt. Muhammad Jibrin, commissioner for Bauchi Public Works and Transportation; Florida Tech College of Aeronautics Dean Kenneth Stackpoole; His Excellency Garba Mohammed Gadi, deputy governor of Bauchi; and Ahmed Yarima, media assistant to the governor.
