The Minister for Transport, Prof. Makame Mbarawa (MP), has commended the National Institute of Transport (NIT) for introducing aviation training programmes in Tanzania, a move he said will enhance the availability of local professionals while significantly reducing training costs for students who previously had to study abroad.
Prof. Mbarawa made the remarks while officiating as the Guest of Honour during the 41st Graduation Ceremony of the institute, where more than 4,000 students graduated at various academic and professional levels in the transport and logistics sector.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Mbarawa praised NIT for expanding its training scope to cover five key areas of transportation, namely Air, Road, Railway, Maritime and Pipeline Transport, noting that the initiative aligns with the government’s strategic agenda to strengthen infrastructure development and human capital in the sector.
“I commend the institute for introducing aviation training locally. This initiative will reduce the cost burden on students while enabling the country to produce competent homegrown aviation professionals,” said Prof. Mbarawa.
He further noted that the government has continued to invest heavily in the transport sector, including the provision of three training aircraft to the institute, alongside ongoing investments in railway, road, maritime and aviation infrastructure.
He emphasized that the government expects NIT to produce highly skilled professionals who will drive national development.
The minister also urged students and graduates to remain disciplined, work hard in their studies and safeguard peace and stability in the country, stressing that a peaceful environment is a cornerstone for quality education and sustainable development.
On his part, the Rector of the National Institute of Transport, Dr. Prosper Mgaya, said the institute has recorded a 35.6 percent increase in student enrolment over the past five years, attributing the growth to NIT’s commitment to aligning its programmes with labour market demands in the transport sector.
Dr. Mgaya expressed gratitude to the government for its continued support through the East Africa Skills for Development and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), which facilitated the construction of a Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Transport Operations.
The centre includes two student hostels with a combined capacity of 1,500 students, as well as modern office blocks, laboratories and workshops.
He added that the institute is currently constructing new campuses in Kilimanjaro and Lindi regions, with the aim of increasing the number of transport and logistics professionals at various qualification levels to meet national needs across all five transport subsectors.
The 41st Graduation Ceremony of the National Institute of Transport also marked a significant milestone, celebrating 50 years of the institute’s contribution to producing skilled and knowledgeable professionals who have played a vital role in the development of Tanzania’s transport infrastructure and economy.