THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has given its green light to a $23.6 million loan for the establishment of a state-of-the-art aviation training facility in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The project, known as the Centre of Excellence for Aviation Skills (CEAS), will encompass an aircraft hangar and collaborate with higher education institutions to produce a skilled workforce that complies with global aviation training standards and industry requirements.
The approval for this initiative, which holds the potential to bolster Rwanda’s ambitions of becoming a regional aviation hub and attracting international investment in the aviation sector, was granted by the AfDB’s Board of Directors on September 29, 2023.
Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, expressed, ‘The Bank’s financial support for this Centre of Excellence speaks to our commitment to investing in human capital to meet demands for the jobs of today – and tomorrow – in Africa’s aviation and related industries.’
The CEAS is expected to commence partial operations in 2025 and aims to enrol up to 500 students. It will offer comprehensive training programmes for pilots, maintenance personnel, cabin crew, as well as dispatch and ancillary courses, which include airport emergency operations services.
In addition to traditional aviation training, the facility will provide courses in drone piloting, flight simulator recurrent training, and advanced pilot training tailored for specialised missions.
Industry experts estimate that Africa will require more than 50,000 aviation professionals over the next two decades, including 15,000 pilots, 17,000 technicians, and 23,000 cabin crew members.
Nnenna Nwabufo, Director General for East Africa at the AfDB, emphasised that the CEAS would create opportunities for skills development among the youth in Rwanda and the broader East African region. She stated, ‘Overall, the project aligns with the Bank’s Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa Action Plan, which stipulates ways of elevating the skills level of Africa’s workforce.’
Martha Phiri, Director for Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development at the AfDB, highlighted the diverse range of sustainable employment opportunities in the aviation industry for Africa’s youth. She stated, ‘We aim to scale up the infrastructure needed to increase access to aviation sector skills training, enabling them to secure decent jobs.’
The construction phase of the project is expected to provide employment for up to 1,000 workers, while the operational phase will generate nearly 98 jobs. The chosen site for the CEAS is strategically located near other related structures, allowing seamless integration with Kigali International Airport’s existing services and facilities.
This initiative aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, which seeks to enhance human capital by delivering high-quality training, upskilling the workforce, and transforming it for higher productivity. The Centre of Excellence for Aviation Skills is poised to play a pivotal role in achieving these objectives and elevating Africa’s aviation industry to new heights.
