Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has been recognised as one of Africa’s top four prominent aviators by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Keyamo disclosed that the honour was announced during a special session at the ongoing IATA Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, where he was formally unveiled alongside other distinguished aviation leaders across the continent.
According to him, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, attributed the recognition to Nigeria’s clear policy direction, ongoing strategic reforms, and strong commitment to global aviation standards.
Alawadhi particularly commended Nigeria’s effective implementation of the Cape Town Convention and the IDERA framework, as well as the country’s impressive 91.4 per cent score in safety oversight by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The rating, he noted, places Nigeria among the leading aviation nations in Africa.
Other aviation figures named among Africa’s top four prominent aviators include Teresia Mbaika Malokwe, Principal Secretary of Kenya’s State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development; Poppy Khosa, Director of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer of the South African Civil Aviation Authority; and Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.
The recognition underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s aviation sector and highlights recent efforts by the government to align the country’s aviation industry with international best practices.
