Aviation agencies as well as seven domestic and international airlines have partnered with the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) for its 22nd annual seminar and gala night which comes up in Lagos on July 19, 2018.
The domestic airlines are Med-View, Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air while the foreign carriers include, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways and Rwandair
Some other have shown interest in the event which will be attended by industry experts within Nigeria and outside the country.
The chairman and managing director of Med-View Airline, Mr. Muneer Bankole said in an interview with the journalists in Lagos that the League had been able to put the government on its toes through objective and analytical reporting of the aviation sector.
Over the years, he said the League contributed their quota immensely to the development of the industry, adding that the airline would continue to partner with the aviation reporters in all its programmes.
“LAAC over the years has been our partner in progress. Members of the league have been tremendously useful to the growth of the airline and the industry at large. Without you doing informative reporting, the industry won’t be where it is today, even though we know there are still a lot needed to be done.”
According to him, the relationship between the airlines and journalists covering
For his part, the spokesman for Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah, said the selection of it’s the airline’s chief chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Allen Onyema as chairman of the event “shows the seriousness the League attaches to the seminar.”
He said the airline would continue to collaborate with the League for the development of the aviation industry in general, noting that without the media, the sector would not have attained the current growth and status.
“At Air Peace, we believe that the media, which seek to inform the public about activities in the sector, must also be well-informed to impart the society. This can only be achieved when you organise these kinds of events where players in the global aviation industry are present,” he said.
Also speaking, the spokesman for Arik Air, Mr. Adebanji Ola, said the airline had over the years partnered the League and “we will continue to do so.”
“We’ve always been your partner and this year’s edition will not be an exception. The industry in general have benefitted hugely from your contributions to the developments in the sector. With this seminar, we at Arik Air believe the nation at large would learn some new things especially with the calibre of speakers you are bringing for the programme.”
Spokesman for Dana Air, Mr. Kingsley Ezenwa also assured that the airline would continue to associate with the League in numerous ways.
For her part, the general manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Mrs. Firiehiwot Mekonnen said Nigeria has the most vibrant aviation journalists on the continent and probably in the world.
She said the carrier would support the League for the forthcoming event stressing that through such developmental initiative more people will be more enlightened and better informed about the happenings in the sector.
On its part, South African Airways said such seminars organised by journalists on the beat would go a long way to propel the sector forward.
The airline through its media consultant in Nigeria urged all stakeholders and players in the sector to support the programmes, which would further improve the knowledge base of participants.
The annual seminar and gala night is expected to have Mr. Nick Fadugba, Dr. Harold Demuren, Mr. Babatunde Irukera and Mr. Ayo Obilana delivering different papers while the minister of state for aviation, Senator. Hadi Sirika would be the guest of honour.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma, the managing directors of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, the commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr. Akin Olateru and the rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Mohammed are among the dignitaries also expected at the annual meet.
