Tanzania injects 70bn/- to bolster aviation excellence at NIT

DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has invested nearly 70bn/- in the National Institute of Transport (NIT) to establish a Centre of Excellence for Aviation, a move aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to train highly skilled aviation professionals and reduce dependence on overseas training.

Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on the institute’s achievements for the 2025/26 financial year and priorities for the current fiscal year, NIT Rector, Dr Prosper Mgaya, said the investment has significantly improved aviation training infrastructure and reduced the cost of aviation-related studies by about 50 per cent.

Dr Mgaya said the government is continuing to create an enabling environment to ensure that students aspiring to become pilots can access training opportunities based on academic merit rather than financial capacity.

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He noted that the Centre of Excellence has enhanced the competitiveness of Tanzanian aviation professionals by providing internationally recognised training and expanding local capacity to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.

The rector commended the Sixth Phase Government under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for its substantial investment in the transport sector, including the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), acquisition of Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) aircraft, construction and rehabilitation of ships, and the upgrading of airports nationwide.

He said the expansion of transport infrastructure has created a growing demand for skilled professionals, prompting NIT to broaden its academic programmes to produce graduates capable of managing and operating modern transport systems efficiently and supporting the country’s socio-economic development.