…Keyamo, Najomo, Alade, Olowo to Lead Strategic Dialogue on Sector Financing
A formidable array of top government officials, regulators, airline executives, financial experts, and aviation service providers are set to gather in Lagos on Thursday, August 7, 2025, for the 29th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).
This year’s edition, themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” will be held at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, and is poised to be a landmark industry event focused on addressing the pressing issues surrounding aviation funding and sustainable investment.
Among the prominent attendees is the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
His presence signals the Federal Government’s commitment to building a stronger financial framework for the sector.
Also expected is the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, who will deliver a regulatory goodwill message.
Najomo is anticipated to highlight ongoing reforms and policies aimed at attracting long-term investment and ensuring a stable operating environment for stakeholders.
Chairing the conference will be Mr. Gbenga Alade, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). With his vast experience in financial restructuring and asset management, Alade is expected to steer critical conversations on how to unlock capital for the sector’s growth.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, a renowned aviation economist and Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa.
Olowo, widely respected for his contributions to airline economics and travel distribution in the region, is expected to offer a deep analysis of the current financing landscape and future prospects for aviation in Nigeria.
The conference will also feature a panel session comprising key industry stakeholders, including airline operators, airport authorities, ground handling companies, aviation fuel marketers, travel and tourism professionals, aircraft leasing firms, financial institutions, insurance providers, and investment advisors.
These stakeholders will engage in robust discussions on issues affecting their respective segments of the aviation value chain, with the goal of finding collective solutions.
According to Mr. Wole Shadare, Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, this year’s conference is timely and crucial to the future of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He noted that the event will explore the bottlenecks hindering aviation financing while also spotlighting new opportunities for growth.
As part of the conference, LAAC will unveil a commemorative publication titled “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development” — a compendium profiling notable individuals, institutions, and state governments that have played transformative roles in the evolution of Nigeria’s aviation sector since 1999.
Discussions at the event will span several thematic areas, including airport infrastructure development, aircraft leasing and funding models, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) financing, aviation fuel pricing, regulatory reforms, airspace management, insurance and risk management, and incentives for private sector investment.
The conference has already received widespread endorsement from aviation regulatory bodies, domestic and international airlines, financial institutions, ground handling firms, and state governments.
Their support reaffirms the LAAC Conference’s position as a premier platform for policy engagement, sectoral collaboration, and strategic industry dialogue.
