The National Institute of Transport (NIT) has celebrated its 50th anniversary by launching a major Centre of Excellence in Aviation and Transport Operations, a move that places NIT on the map as one of the best transport training institutes in Africa.
The celebrations took place today, August 21, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, attended by national leaders and stakeholders in the transport sector, where the third International Conference on Transport, Logistics and Management in the Transport Sector was also officially graced.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Transport, Professor Makame Mbarawa said the Sixth Phase Government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has given the transport sector a special priority by enabling it to be modern and safe, in order to stimulate the growth of the national economy.
"The transport sector is the backbone of any country's economy. President Samia has placed great priority on this sector and a major example is the construction of the SGR from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. In the past, we spent nine hours by bus, today we spend only three hours by train," he said
According to the Minister, more than 50 billion shillings have been allocated by the Government to establish the NIT’s Centre of Excellence in Aviation and Transport Operations, with research and training conducted at the Institute which is expected to help solve the challenges in the transport sector.
He said the Government has also established a pilot training course in the country at NIT so as to reduce the high costs of studying abroad, which reached between 100 and 150 million shillings, noting that the training is now being taught in the country at affordable prices but at internationally accepted standards.
On his part, the NIT Rector, Dr. Prosper Mgaya said that the Institute started with 78 students 50 years ago and now there are more than 17,000 long-term students while each year the NIT provides training to more than 10,000 short-term students.
“We now have modern facilities and our Institute is internationally recognized. We have accreditation from TCAA and also we have accreditation recognized by the European Union. Therefore, our graduates are internationally recognized,” said the NIT Rector.
He noted that one of the major events at the 50th anniversary is the launch of the Center of Excellence for Aviation and Transport Operations, which has entered into agreements with various international institutions to provide training to professionals in the sector.