By George Ozalla
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Thursday led a high-level Nigerian delegation to welcome former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, to the ongoing African Air Transport Convention and Expo 2026 taking place in Lomé, Togo.
The former President’s arrival marked another significant moment at the continental aviation gathering, which has attracted heads of government, aviation regulators, policymakers, airline operators, investors and other critical stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
Keyamo disclosed that the Nigerian delegation received Obasanjo shortly after his arrival at the convention venue, where discussions are expected to focus on the future of air transportation on the continent, regional connectivity, aviation infrastructure, air safety, market liberalisation and strategies for unlocking Africa’s vast aviation potential.
Also attending the event are Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, reflecting the high-level political support being mobilised for the advancement of Africa’s air transport sector.
The Nigerian delegation comprises some of the continent’s most prominent aviation figures, including Adefunke Adeyemi, who is participating in her capacity as Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC); Captain Boyo, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) Ambassador for the Western Region; and Captain Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Industry observers view Nigeria’s strong presence at the convention as further evidence of the country’s commitment to shaping conversations around aviation reform and continental integration. As Africa’s most populous nation and one of the continent’s largest aviation markets, Nigeria continues to play a leading role in efforts aimed at improving air connectivity and facilitating seamless movement of people, goods and services across African borders.
The African Air Transport Convention and Expo has emerged as one of the continent’s foremost aviation platforms, bringing together governments, regulators and private sector operators to examine opportunities and challenges within the industry. Deliberations at the event are expected to centre on accelerating implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market initiative, expanding investment in aviation infrastructure, promoting regulatory harmonisation and enhancing collaboration among African states.
Obasanjo’s participation is expected to add weight to discussions at the convention. Throughout his public life, the former Nigerian leader has remained an influential advocate for African integration, economic cooperation and regional development, issues that remain closely linked to the growth and sustainability of the continent’s aviation industry.
The convention is expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening Africa’s aviation ecosystem and positioning the sector as a major driver of trade, tourism, investment and economic growth across the continent.
