The managing director of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mr. Idris Yakubu, is renowned for having excellent faculties of management, hence his appointment has been seen as a ‘Daniel come to judgement’.
His coming to the foremost Nigerian ground handling firm as managing director and chief executive officer is meant to change the economic dynamics of the company and position it for profitability.
Yakubu, a “master game changer” wherever and whenever his services are needed, has spent 25 years in the banking sector and worked in different areas of banking, including commercial, consumer, retail and public sector banking and has acquired a wealth of experience and competence in these areas.
Yakubu who is also described variously as “knowledgeable”, “very calm”, “cerebral” and “analytical” and someone who possesses energy and passion to drive performance, is reputed to have an enviable track record of consistent performance and achievement besides being a good team player, and self-motivated person who goes to a great length to inspire his team.
As a game changer, the managing director said recently when he convened a maiden meeting of staff at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos that he would lead the change and fresh drive that the company requires to move to the next level.
“Nahco aviance requires a new and stronger service culture. We are looking forward to a positive change. You need to improve the areas that you can improve, and we must work together to effect the change. Some of the things required are little but they are very important,” he said.
He also told the staff that “we have a lot of work to do to re-position the company” and as someone who believes in teamwork, he said “I cannot do it alone.”
“We must work together to increase revenues, reduce and optimise our costs and exceed our customers’ expectations. Let the world know that nahco is the best in its service and product offerings.
“We have to win back our customers and reinforce the positive perception that our stakeholders have of nahco. The management of the company is focused on recovering lost grounds and would make a renewed drive for excellence in all its activities its watchword.”
Like the American lawyer, a civil war veteran, politician, and orator during the Golden Age of Free Thought, Robert Green Ingersoll (August 11, 1833 – July 21, 1899) who held that “in nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences,” Yakubu warned his team that the era of ‘business as usual’ was over.
He told them not to take things for granted saying every staff would be held accountable for their action or inaction.
“If you deliberately commit an error that the company has to pay for; then maybe, you should pay. Nahco’s business should be regarded as our business and we must all take ownership,” he stressed.
Again, like the American educator, author and orator, Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) who held that “nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work,” Yakubu applauded the recent promotion in the company.
Yakubu who promised do even more as staff become more productive and show greater diligence to work, described the exercise as “unparalleled in the industry,” adding that “it is not in my character to lead a de-motivated workforce.”
Yakubu comes to nahco aviance with a vast wealth of experience in financial management, leadership, strategy, business development, organizational change and business renewal.
His most recent appointment was executive director at Skye Bank Plc.
A consummate relationship manager, team builder and turnaround specialist, Yakubu was a key member of the Fidelity Bank Consolidation Implementation Team at Fidelity/FSB between October and December 2005 serving as chairman of the marketing and products sub-committee.
He holds a B.Sc Accounting degree from the University of Jos, M.Sc in Banking and Finance from the University of Jos, Advanced Management Programme Certificate from the Pan African University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The managing director also attended executive and management training at Harvard Business School, Oxford, Said Business School, Wharton School and Kellogg School of Management, among others.
In 2016, Yakubu, was elected the president, University of Jos Alumni Association at the national delegates’ conference of the institution.
