United Nigeria Airlines Chairman Okonkwo Named Travel Personality of the Year
The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has been named Travel Personality of the Year and recognised among Nigeria’s Top 100 Travel and Tourism Icons for 2025/2026.
The recognition was conferred through a public voting process and is aimed at acknowledging individuals and organisations considered to have made notable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s aviation, travel and tourism sectors.
Okonkwo’s award was received on his behalf by UNA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Adedayo Olawuyi, at the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market held in Lagos.
The organisers said the award was linked to the growth of United Nigeria Airlines since its establishment, as well as its contribution to domestic air travel in the country.
Speaking on the recognition, the organiser of the awards, Ikechi Uko, said United Nigeria Airlines had recorded a significant rise in less than six years of operation.
Uko said the airline had also made a notable impact on Nigeria’s travel industry over the past year, particularly through its focus on passenger needs and domestic connectivity.
According to him, the airline under Okonkwo’s leadership has prioritised improved access to air travel, connectivity, operational efficiency, convenience and seamless travel experiences for passengers.
“The recognition honours the airline’s commitment to providing Nigerian travellers with greater access, improved connectivity, efficiency, convenience, and seamless travel experiences, while contributing significantly to the growth and development of domestic air travel in Nigeria,” Uko said.
He added that the recognition reflected what he described as the phenomenal growth of United Nigeria Airlines since its establishment and the role it has played in the domestic aviation market.
The award is part of the Travellers Awards, which has been recognising individuals, organisations and businesses across the aviation, travel and tourism sectors since 1996.
The annual awards are designed to celebrate contributions to sectoral development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The awards are organised by Travellers Magazine, which was first published in 1993 and is described by the organisers as West Africa’s pioneer travel magazine.
Through the latest recognition, Okonkwo joins a list of individuals acknowledged by the organisers for their contributions to Africa’s travel and tourism landscape.
United Nigeria Airlines said the award also underscored the importance of passenger-focused operations in the development of Nigeria’s domestic aviation industry.
Receiving the award on behalf of Okonkwo, Olawuyi said the airline’s performance demonstrated that a well-managed domestic carrier with a strong focus on passengers could establish itself in Nigeria’s challenging aviation environment.
He said the recognition provided an indication of the value passengers place on airlines that focus on improving the quality and convenience of domestic air travel.
According to Olawuyi, passengers who choose United Nigeria Airlines are also choosing a carrier that has received recognition for its contribution to the advancement of domestic air transportation in Nigeria.
The award comes at a time when the Nigerian aviation industry continues to grapple with issues including operational costs, connectivity, passenger convenience and the sustainability of domestic airlines.
For domestic carriers, improved passenger experience and wider route connectivity remain important factors in attracting and retaining travellers, particularly as airlines compete for a share of the country’s growing demand for air transport.
United Nigeria Airlines has positioned itself as a domestic carrier serving various destinations within Nigeria, with its operations centred on connecting major cities and improving access to air travel.
The latest recognition of its executive chairman therefore places the airline’s growth and passenger-oriented approach among the factors highlighted by the organisers of the Travellers Awards in assessing contributions to Nigeria’s travel industry.
