BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) has unveiled a distinguished array of aviation leaders, financial experts, and policymakers who will converge for its 29th Annual Conference, slated for Thursday, 7 August 2025, at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
Themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” the conference is set to provide a robust platform for strategic dialogue on unlocking new funding models and investment pathways in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The conference will be chaired by Mr. Gbenga Alade, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), whose experience in financial restructuring and asset management is expected to enrich the conversation around capital deployment in aviation.
Delivering the keynote address will be Dr. Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, a respected aviation economist and Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, renowned for his deep insight into airline economics and travel distribution systems.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, will grace the conference as the Special Guest of Honour, underlining the federal government’s commitment to revitalising the aviation sector through sustainable financing mechanisms.
In addition, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, will be in attendance to deliver a regulatory goodwill message that highlights the Authority’s drive toward an investor-friendly and stable operating environment for all players in the industry.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Wole Shadare, Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, described the 2025 edition as a critical intervention at a time when the aviation industry is undergoing far-reaching reforms.
“Our 29th annual conference is a timely intervention that aligns with ongoing reforms in the aviation industry. It will examine new opportunities and address long-standing bottlenecks that hinder sustainable financing. More importantly, it offers a forum where decision-makers and stakeholders can build consensus for the sector’s future,” Shadare stated.
As part of the conference programme, LAAC will also launch a commemorative publication titled “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development,” a compendium that honours key individuals, institutions, and state governments that have played transformative roles in advancing Nigeria’s aviation landscape since the return to democratic governance in 1999.
The conference is expected to draw active participation from airline operators, airport authorities, ground handling firms, aviation fuel suppliers, travel sector professionals, financial institutions, and aircraft leasing companies.
Discussions will cut across critical themes such as infrastructure financing, maintenance funding, fuel pricing strategies, regulatory reforms, risk management, and investment incentives tailored to the sector.
With endorsements from industry regulators, domestic and foreign airlines, and state governments, LAAC 2025 stands as a premier gathering of thought leaders and sector influencers.
The event is poised to shape the next phase of Nigeria’s aviation journey, fostering collaborative action and honouring those who continue to drive progress within the industry.
