With Nigeria’s aviation sector grappling with critical funding gaps, infrastructure decay, and regulatory challenges, the 29th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) is shaping up to be a strategic platform for reform-focused dialogue.
The conference, scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2025, at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together key voices from government, finance, and the aviation industry.
Leading the conversation is Mr. Bismarck Rewane, renowned economist and Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, who will deliver a keynote address offering insight into macroeconomic trends, investment flows, and the fiscal models needed to finance Nigeria’s aviation ambitions.
Themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” this year’s conference aims to drive actionable conversations around capital access, infrastructure funding, and sustainable growth mechanisms within the aviation ecosystem.
Other headline speakers include Mr. Gbenga Alade, Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), who will chair the conference, and Dr. Gabriel Olowo, aviation economist and Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, who is expected to examine sectoral dynamics and economic sustainability.
Notably, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, will attend as Special Guest of Honour, adding a regulatory and policy perspective to the discussions.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, will also deliver a goodwill message, reaffirming the regulator’s role in facilitating a viable investment climate.
LAAC says this year’s conference will not only provide clarity on financing challenges but also spotlight practical opportunities and emerging trends in aircraft leasing, airport modernization, Jet A1 pricing, MRO funding, and investment in air navigation infrastructure.
Confirmed panelists include industry heavyweights such as:
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, MD/CEO, FAAN
Mr. Alex Nwuba, Chairman, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, CEO, CITA Energies
Captain Roland Iyayi, CEO, TopBrass Aviation
Mr. Chris Aligbe, CEO, Belujane Konzult
Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines
In addition, the conference will feature the launch of a commemorative publication, “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development,” profiling individuals, institutions, and administrations that have shaped Nigeria’s aviation growth since 1999.
Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, Mr. Wole Shadare, said the conference is more than a talk shop, it’s designed to push forward key recommendations on aviation finance strategy, government-private sector collaboration, and long-term industry stability.
“We have a well-curated agenda focused on practical financing frameworks and long-overdue reform.
The participation of top industry leaders, policy influencers, and regulators underscores the relevance of this platform,” Shadare said.
With endorsements from regulatory agencies, local and international airlines, banks, and key state stakeholders, LAAC 2025 promises to deliver high-level discussions that could reshape the trajectory of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Very powerful event