SPEAKERS - LIA

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

LIA brings to you a host of thought-leadership who are experts and practitioners in their various fields. Become a Speaker!

MR. FESTUS KEYAMO

Festus Egwarewa Keyamo (SAN FCIArb) is a Nigerian lawyer, columnist and human rights activist who serves as the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria.

In April 2018, Keyamo was appointed as the director of Strategic Communications of the 2019 re-election bid of President Buhari[3]and later appointed minister of State for Labour and Employment.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria

CAPT. C. O. Najomo

Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, a seasoned pilot with over thirty (30) years' experience, is the former Director of Air Transport Regulation (DATR).

In the course of his glorious flying career, the new Director attended several courses and trainings both home and overseas. Some of these institutions and certificate courses he attended are Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) Training School, Lagos; Airline Training Institute, California, United States of America (USA); America Eagle Aviation, Long Beach California USA; Point Airline Orly, France; Shorts Brother, Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Pegasus Training Centre, Texas, USA.

At different times, he was Air Traffic Control Assistant for Ilorin Control Tower, Ilorin; Enugu Control Tower, Enugu; and Lagos Control Tower, Lagos. He was also Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Designated Examiner BAC 1-1997-2000; Director of Flight Operations, Okada Airline; and Training Captain/Simulator Instructor of Albarka Airlines. Capt. Chris Najomo belongs to many professional bodies and recipient of numerous awards among which is Best Pilot of the year by NCAA. Until his present appointment, Capt. Najomo was the Chief Pilot for Arik Air.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO, NCAA)

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BRIA OKONKWO

Bria Okonkwo is a Kaizen-Spirited Executive with hybrid management skills and strategic understanding to drive businesses especially in emerging markets. Bria brings to the table a wealth of knowledge across borders and industries.

She is a successful Entrepreneur and a prolific IT/Business consultant with an in-depth foundation in aviation, innovation and technology. With over 18 years of consulting experience for major international companies across various industries.

A strong innovator abreast with new technology solutions and ideas which she has championed and helped various start-ups, she currently sits on the board of various companies and as a lead mentor in Innovation and Technology for Mentor X-Africa.

Chief Executive Officer
(LIA)

ATEDO PETERSIDE

Atedo N. A. Peterside CON is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist.

Founder & Pioneer CEO of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, President & Founder of Anap Foundation. Chairman of ART X Collective Limited, Endeavor Nigeria and Anap Business Jets Limited

CEO/Founder
(Anap Jets)

BALAMI ISAAC D.

As an aviator, he is a former National President of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), a position he held for eight years.

He is the CEO OF 7Star Global; a group of companies that is made up of 7Star Global Hangar; The first independent and private aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) in West and Central Africa, 7Star Apparels (A big and fast rising Nigerian fashion world) and Buy7Star; a proudly Nigerian e-commerce platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Chief Executive Officer
(7Star Global)

MRS. OLUBUNMI OLUWASEUN KUKU

Sindy is an aviation analyst with deep knowledge of African aviation, and a strategically focused, marketing & PR specialist with an international client base across multiple industry sectors.

A member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (Aviation Thematic Group), a member of the Aviation Policy and Strategy group in Nigeria, and the Co-Founder of the Space Industry in Africa Working Group.

Managing Director
(FAAN)

ROTIMI MAKANJUOLA

Rotimi Makanjuola is the Chief Operating Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group. He is a strategic minded financial leader with the ability to develop complex financial models that allow executives make strategic decisions throughout the sales cycle to eventual revenue and P&L Management. He collaborates with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Operations, Finance and Strategy to develop hypotheses leading to new business development opportunities.

He oversees our global operations and, evaluates the financial and strategic impact of new business opportunities including business development strategies, service offerings, technology solutions, and client proposals. He obtained a BSc Economics from University of Bradford, UK and an MSc, Auditing and Management from City Business School, London, UK. He brings to bear his wealth of experience in handling Caverton’s Operations.

Chief Operations Officer
(Caverton Offshore Support Group)

GEORGE URIESI

After what we thought was an 'early' retirement from a successful corporate career, George took advantage of his vast experience and track record in the Air Transport Industry to become a Consultant and Coach, providing leadership and personal development coaching as well as financial education and aviation management consulting.

After helping to set up a start up airline in Nigeria, he was tasked to help run it until it is successful.

Specialties: Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, Organizational Development, Airport and Airline Management.

Chief Operating Officer
(Ibom Air)

HASSAN EJIBUNU

Deputy Director, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency, Lagos

Director Air Transport Management
(Ministry of Aviation)

ENGR. UMAR AHMED FAROUK

Engr. Abatan Gbolahan Olusegun is a seasoned aircraft maintenance engineer and private pilot with great wealth of experience both in line and base maintenance.

He holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership & Strategic Management/2022 Award (Honorary) from Maverick Business Academy, London as well as ICAO Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). Zaria.

Before his appointment as the Director of Air Worthiness Standards (DAWS), Engr. Abatan Gbolahan Olusegun served as the President of Airfirst Nigeria Limited (ANL) and Airfirst Maintenance & Engineering (AFME) carrying out quality aircraft maintenance & engineering, management and several general aviation businesses.

Managing Director
(NAMA)

SINDY FOSTER

Sindy is an aviation analyst with deep knowledge of African aviation, and a strategically focused, marketing & PR specialist with an international client base across multiple industry sectors.

Aviation Analyst & PR Specialist
(Avaero Capital Partners)

CAPT. M. NZUZA-JONGWE

Born and bred in Durban, South Africa, she shares a dual first love with Entrepreneurship and Aviation. She comes from a business background as daughter of KwaZulu-Natal prominent and well-respected businesswoman: Musa Nzuza - Nzimande.

Mandisa is a trained and licensed Private Pilot with a particular interest in the development and transformation of the Aviation industry in Africa, and focus on inclusion and accessibility for all races and genders.

She holds a business management and marketing qualification from Regent Business School and over 10 years of experience in business development. A key voice in the industry and advocate for equitable gender representation, she was a special guest to the ‘Global Aviation Gender Summit’ hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. She also took part in the ‘South Africa Week Celebrations’ in Lagos Nigeria in 2023 where she represented the Aviation industry in Africa as a panelist at the ‘Trade & Investment Roundtable’.

Captain Mandisa Nzuza-Jongwe is a mother, a wife and values family and community above everything.

Chief Executive Officer
(Rhodium Aviation, SA)

We pride ourselves in putting the leading voices from the Aviation industry in Africa and beyond on stage at our events. We are always looking to collaborate with more founders and CEOs to create engaging content for attendees.

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MEET OUR SPEAKERS