Babalakin, Onyema to speak at LAAC conference on sunset airports

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the Nigerian aviation industry, including Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Barr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace and other aviation heads, would constitute a panel of discussants at the forthcoming 26th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).

The conference, which is scheduled to hold on July 28, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, has received the approval of Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation and other critical stakeholders, which cut across the airline and ground handling sub-sectors.

A statement by the Secretary, Planning Committee of the conference, Mr. Albinus Chiedu, said the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu; the Ag. Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Lawrence Pwajok and the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, would be among the panelists.

Others are Engr. Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N) and Capt. Roland Iyayi, CEO, Topbrass Aviation Limited, among others.

Chiedu stated that the panels have been divided into two sessions.

Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the General Manager, Public Affairs would moderate the first panel, while Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, Director, Research, Zenith Travels would moderate the second panel.

This year’s conference, which has Sirika as the Special Guest of Honour is to be chaired by Mr. Bernard Bankole, Group Managing Director, Finchglow Holdings.

The conference is expected to attract over 250 aviation industry professionals, cutting across the aviation agencies, security agencies, international and domestic airlines operating in Nigeria, aviation support services, travel trade sellers and buyers and other stakeholders.

Theme of the 2022 LAAC conference is: ‘Sunset Airports: Economic & Safety Implications.’

Discussions will centre around solutions to the multiple challenges faced by stakeholders in terms of safety and economics as a result of operating sunset airports in Nigeria.

The LAAC Annual Conference has over the years, made an unquantifiable impact on Nigeria’s aviation industry by throwing up policy, management and operational issues for public discuss.

This has resulted in tremendously significant evidential changes in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Aviation and allied business organisations have equally taken advantage of sponsorship opportunities presented by the event to sell their products and services.