BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has called on African nations to prioritise human capital development in air traffic management to ensure safer skies across the continent.
Delivering the keynote address at the 36th International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) Africa & Middle East Regional Meeting, Keyamo stressed the urgency of strategic recruitment, training, and retention of skilled personnel.
Speaking under the theme “Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATM Capacity through Strategic Recruitment, Training, and Retention,” he said, “Across our region, we face rising complexity in operations and higher expectations from the travelling public. To meet these challenges, we must invest not only in technology, but, even more importantly, in people. It is the professionalism, alertness, and dedication of Air Traffic Controllers that keep millions of passengers safe every single day.”
Keyamo highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to aviation safety through the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and a comprehensive five-Point Aviation Agenda.
He revealed that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is modernizing Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems, expanding training pipelines, and institutionalizing programs supporting mental wellbeing and peer mentorship.
He also emphasised regional collaboration, noting, “We must remember that aviation is a shared ecosystem. Its strength lies in collaboration, among States, regulators, ANSPs, and professional bodies like IFATCA. Our skies know no borders; therefore, our success must also be borderless, built on shared knowledge, shared responsibility, and shared resolve.”
The Minister commended IFATCA for its dedication to professionalism and expressed gratitude to Zimbabwe’s government for hosting the conference.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to translate deliberations into tangible actions:
“May our deliberations here translate into real actions that enhance capacity, strengthen cooperation, and secure a brighter future for aviation in Africa and the Middle East.”
The event saw participation from ministers and senior aviation officials across Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and leading IFATCA representatives.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
