All is set for the 28th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), which is scheduled to hold in Lagos this Friday.
A statement by Albinus Chiedu, the Secretary, Conference Committee, LAAC, said that various speakers and participants would seek to address the myriads of challenges bedeviling the airline sub-sector, the handling companies and other auxiliary organisations in the industry and proffer solutions.
Chiedu mentioned Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development as the Special Guest of Honour, leading Chief Executive Officers of government agencies, airlines operators and other stakeholders as some of the key participants.
Keyamo, who confirmed his participation, alongside other industry major stakeholders, affirmed that the leading aviation industry gathering would afford him the opportunity to exchange ideas with operators, business owners and others on how the country’s aviation sector could survive amidst the prevailing macro-economic environment.
He said: “The challenges before us and the industry are not insurmountable. We need to come together, especially at the LAAC conference. It gives us the best opportunity to dissect the challenges one after the other and agree on the steps to take to reach and achieve our goals.
“I urge stakeholders to come with open and progressive minds and let us take a good look at the sector which we all know has great potential to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our dear country and open doors of employment opportunities for our teaming population of unemployed professionals.”
Stakeholders described the theme of the conference: ‘Aviation Survivability Amidst A Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,’ as timely against the background of the challenging state of Nigeria’s economy, which they said had amplified the already existing constraints to growth and development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
According to him, Engr. Umar Farouk, the Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), would deliver the keynote speech, while Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, the former Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria, Capt Samuel Caulcrick and Dr. Alex Nwuba, the Second Vice President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Alex Nwuba would present papers on topical issues.
According to him, a panel session, which would include Capt. Chris Najomo, Ag. Director-General, Civil Aviation, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), would be moderated by Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, former Managing Director of FAAN.
Other dignitaries at the panel session are Mr. Olaniyi Adigun; Chairman of Association of Ground Handlers of Nigeria (AGHAN), Mr. Adejoju Olutimayin, the Managing Director, FCM Nigeria and others.
Source: Independent
