Admin I Wednesday, April 29.26
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has been named one of Africa’s top four most prominent aviators.
The prestigious recognition was announced on Wednesday during a special session at the ongoing International Air Transport Association (IATA) Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa.
According to IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, Keyamo’s inclusion in the elite list is a testament to his “purposeful leadership” and the strategic reforms he has spearheaded since taking office.
Alawadhi cited Nigeria’s recent milestones as the primary catalysts for the honour, specifically pointing to:
Cape Town Convention Compliance: The effective administration of the IDERA framework, which has boosted investor confidence.
Global Safety Standards: Nigeria’s impressive 91.4% score in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety oversight audit.
Policy Clarity: Swift resolution of longstanding industry bottlenecks that previously hindered operational stability.
”This recognition reflects purposeful leadership, bold reforms, and measurable progress. Nigeria’s aviation sector is clearly on a transformative path,” Alawadhi stated during the unveiling.
Keyamo shares the spotlight with three other heavyweights in African aviation:
Teresia Mbaika Malokwe: Principal Secretary for Aviation, Kenya.
Poppy Khosa: Director-General of the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Mesfin Tasew: Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.
Reacting to the development through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister noted that the recognition reinforces Nigeria’s rising profile as a driver of aviation transformation on the continent.
Since his appointment, Festus Keyamo has moved to reposition Nigeria’s aviation industry by focusing on strict adherence to international protocols.
A major breakthrough under his tenure was the resolution of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) requirements, which allows Nigerian airlines to lease aircraft more easily and cheaply by providing legal guarantees to international lessors.
Before these reforms, Nigeria faced challenges with its safety ratings and the “blacklisting” of local carriers by some international lessors due to legal hurdles in recovering aircraft.
The current administration’s focus on ICAO compliance and the Focus Africa initiative—which aims to improve connectivity and safety across the continent—has seen Nigeria climb the ranks of global aviation influence.
The IATA Focus Africa Conference remains a pivotal summit where stakeholders address the high cost of operations, safety hurdles, and the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
