BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The countdown is on for the 29th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), with organisers confirming that renowned economist, Bismarck Rewane, will headline the event as a keynote speaker.
The highly anticipated conference, themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
With just days to go, LAAC says all is set for what promises to be a landmark gathering of stakeholders from across the aviation and finance sectors.
Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited and one of Nigeria’s most influential voices in economic policy analysis, is expected to share deep insights on macroeconomic trends and sustainable funding models to reposition the country’s aviation industry.
Also on the programme is Mr. Gbenga Alade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), who will chair the conference, while aviation economist, Dr. Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, will deliver another keynote address focused on industry dynamics and air transport economics.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will attend as Special Guest of Honour, while the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, will deliver a goodwill message underscoring the regulator’s role in ensuring a business-friendly investment climate.
A distinguished line-up of industry experts will lead technical sessions, including Mr. Alex Nwuba, Chairman of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; aviation analyst Mr. Chris Aligbe, Chief Executive of Belujane Konzult; Dr. Thomas Ogungbangbe, CEO of CITA Energies Limited; Captain Roland Iyayi, CEO of TopBrass Aviation; Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); and Dr. Obinna Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines.
Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, Mr. Wole Shadare, said the forum would offer stakeholders a unique opportunity to explore practical solutions to the industry’s pressing financing challenges.
“We are fully ready to host what promises to be one of the most consequential conversations on aviation financing in Nigeria’s recent history”, Shadare said.
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 said.
The conference will also feature the unveiling of “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development,” a commemorative compendium honouring individuals, institutions, and governments that have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s aviation growth since 1999.
Key topics to be addressed include infrastructure investment and airport modernisation, aircraft leasing, funding for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations, Jet A1 supply and pricing, regulatory reforms, navigational infrastructure, consumer protection, and insurance and risk management.
Backed by regulatory agencies, airlines, state governments, ground handling companies and financial institutions, the LAAC conference has established itself as Nigeria’s premier platform for aviation dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
