…Event Holds 7 August 2025 in Lagos

With barely a week to go, the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) has reaffirmed its high level of preparedness for the 29th Annual Conference scheduled to hold on Thursday, 7 August 2025, at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

Themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” the landmark event has drawn substantial industry interest and endorsements, with robust participation anticipated from across the aviation and finance spectrum.

In a major update, LAAC has confirmed the addition of Mr Bismarck Rewane, acclaimed financial analyst and Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, as a keynote speaker.

Rewane, a respected voice in Nigeria’s economic and financial policy circles, will bring deep insights into macroeconomic trends, investment flows, and sustainable financing strategies critical to the aviation sector’s future.

Mr Gbenga Alade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), remains confirmed as Conference Chairman, while Dr Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, aviation economist and Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, will deliver a keynote address focused on industry dynamics and the economics of air transport.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN will attend as Special Guest of Honour, lending crucial government perspective to the conversation around financing frameworks, reforms, and policy directions.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, will deliver a regulatory goodwill message, affirming the Authority’s commitment to an enabling investment environment and sustainable oversight regime.

A diverse panel of seasoned professionals from various segments of the aviation value chain will drive technical sessions.

The panelists include: Mr Alex Nwuba, Chairman, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Mr Chris Aligbe, Former General Manager Corporate Information of the defunct Nigeria Airways now Chief Executive of Belujane Konzult, Dr Thomas Ogungbangbe, Chief Executive Officer of CITA Energies Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, Chief Executive Officer of TopBrass Aviation, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines.

Speaking on the final stage of preparations, Mr Wole Shadare, Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, said:

“We are fully ready to host what promises to be one of the most consequential conversations on aviation financing in Nigeria’s recent history.

The addition of Mr Bismarck Rewane brings further intellectual weight to an already robust programme.

Delegates can expect high-impact sessions and practical policy recommendations that speak directly to Nigeria’s aviation financing realities.”

He added that the event will also feature the unveiling of a compendium titled “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development” – a commemorative publication profiling individuals, institutions, and governments that have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s aviation sector since 1999.

Key thematic areas to be addressed at the conference include:

• Infrastructure investment and airport modernisation
• Aircraft leasing and financing strategies
• Funding Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations
• Jet A1 supply and pricing mechanisms
• Regulatory reforms and consumer protection
• Navigational infrastructure and technology investment
• Insurance and risk management

As the countdown begins, LAAC has assured stakeholders of a seamless and engaging event, with robust logistics already in place and all strategic partners confirming participation.

The conference enjoys the endorsement of aviation regulatory agencies, local and international airlines, state governments, ground handling firms, and financial institutions, reinforcing its status as a premier platform for aviation dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

For media enquiries or participation details, please contact:

Mr Wole Shadare
Chairman, LAAC Conference Committee
+234 802 306 7883

Tersoo Isaac Agber
Secretary, LAAC Conference Committee
+234 703 707 5856