The National Institute of Transport (NIT) has been officially accredited by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an International License Examination Centre for Aircraft Maintenance, marking a major milestone in Tanzania’s aviation training capabilities.
Minister for Transport, Professor Makame Mbarawa, made the announcement on Thursday, May 15, 2025, while presenting his ministry’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year in Parliament.
He stated that the accreditation was secured through a partnership between NIT and the Athens Aviation Training Organization of Greece.
“This is a groundbreaking achievement for our country,” Prof Mbarawa said. “It positions Tanzania as a regional leader in aviation training and ensures that our graduates meet internationally recognized standards, boosting their competitiveness in both regional and global labour markets.”
He also revealed that NIT has been certified as an EASA Part-147 Maintenance Training Organization, allowing it to offer comprehensive Aircraft Maintenance Engineering training.
In addition, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has granted NIT approval to launch a pilot training programme, which is expected to begin in June 2025.
Prof Mbarawa highlighted NIT’s growing role in national development, noting that the Institute currently offers 48 long-term strategic courses aimed at producing professionals to support key government infrastructure projects.
“NIT has enrolled 17,701 students this year, up from 16,131 in 2023/24 a 9.7 percent increase,” he told Parliament.
To further strengthen technical training, the government is continuing to establish the NIT Lindi Campus.
The new campus will focus on producing a skilled workforce for Tanzania’s maritime, oil, and gas industries.
As part of the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), NIT is developing a Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Transport Operations Training. Significant progress has already been made in infrastructure development.
“At the Mabibo Campus in Dar es Salaam, five new buildings are under construction,” Prof Mbarawa said.
“Two student dormitories with a total capacity of 1,504 have been completed. Construction of three academic buildings which will include 10 classrooms, 15 laboratories, five workshops, and 25 staff offices is 96 percent complete.”he added
Furthermore, the Minister announced plans to build a state-of-the-art aviation hangar at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
The facility will be used for pilot training and aircraft maintenance engineering. The project is currently in the contractor selection phase.