Air Peace, Onyema Bag Best Airline, Corporate Citizenship Awards of the Decade
Air Peace and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, have emerged among the major award recipients at the 2026 Nigeria’s Pride Awards, clinching two separate honours for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry and national development.
Onyema was honoured with the Outstanding Responsible Corporate Citizen of the Decade award, while Air Peace was named Best Airline of the Decade at the ceremony held on November 10, 2026, at the Grand Hall of Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.
The awards, organised by the First Green White Resource Centre (FGWRC), publishers of African Leadership Scorecard Magazine, Nationwide Reports and The Beauties of Nigeria TV, recognise individuals and organisations whose activities have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development, peace, unity and the wellbeing of humanity.
The organisers said the recognition of Air Peace was informed by its transformation into a major indigenous airline, its investments in aviation infrastructure, employment generation, human-capital development and expansion of Nigeria’s air transport connections to international destinations.
In its citation, the award organisers also acknowledged the airline’s humanitarian interventions, including the evacuation of Nigerians from crisis-hit countries, support for Nigerian sports and other national causes.
The airline was further commended for contributing to competition within the aviation industry and creating opportunities for more Nigerians to access international air travel through expanded flight connections.
Air Peace has, over the years, grown from a domestic operator into a significant regional and international carrier, with operations connecting Nigeria to several destinations across Africa and beyond.
Its expansion has contributed to the growing presence of Nigerian-owned airlines in international aviation, a sector traditionally dominated by foreign carriers.
The airline’s investment in fleet expansion, operational capacity and workforce development has also made it an important employer in the country’s aviation value chain.
Onyema’s individual recognition, according to the organisers, was in acknowledgement of his leadership in building the airline and promoting responsible corporate citizenship through initiatives that extend beyond commercial aviation.
His award also reflects the airline chairman’s involvement in humanitarian activities and interventions aimed at supporting Nigerians, particularly during emergencies and periods of national difficulty.
Speaking at the ceremony, Founder and Organiser of Nigeria’s Pride Awards, Mr Bonaventure Phillips Melah, praised Onyema for his leadership and commended Air Peace for its contributions to the country.
Melah highlighted the airline’s role in aviation investment, job creation, humanitarian service and improving Nigeria’s international connectivity.
He said the recognition was intended to celebrate individuals and institutions whose contributions go beyond their immediate professional and commercial interests to positively influence society.
Receiving the awards on behalf of Onyema and Air Peace, the airline’s spokesperson, Mr Osifo-Whiskey Efeoghene, expressed appreciation to FGWRC and the organising committee for finding the airline and its chairman worthy of the honours.
Efeoghene said the awards represented recognition of Onyema’s vision of building a Nigerian airline with a strong national purpose and the collective commitment of employees to achieving that ambition.
He noted that the airline’s achievements were the product of the dedication of its workforce, whose efforts had continued to support its operations, connect communities and create economic opportunities.
According to him, the recognitions also reinforced the importance of indigenous investment in developing Nigeria’s aviation industry and demonstrating the capacity of local businesses to compete in the international marketplace.
The double honour comes at a time when Nigeria’s aviation industry is seeking greater investment, improved connectivity and stronger participation by indigenous operators in the African and global air transport markets.
For Nigerian airlines, expanding international operations remains an important component of efforts to improve connectivity, generate foreign exchange, create employment and reduce the dominance of foreign carriers on routes linking the country with international destinations.
The Nigeria’s Pride Awards is organised to recognise individuals and corporate organisations whose leadership, professional achievements and humanitarian contributions support national development, peace, unity and the advancement of humanity.
