Keyamo, AMCON Boss, Sabre Chairman to Lead Dialogue on Aviation Financing at LAAC 2025 Conference
A stellar gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and financial experts is set to converge in Lagos for the 29th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), scheduled to hold on Thursday, 7 August 2025, at The Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja.
This year’s conference, themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” promises to be a landmark event, focusing on innovative funding mechanisms and investment models required to reposition Nigeria’s aviation sector.
At the helm of discussions will be Mr Gbenga Alade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), who has been named as Chairman of the event.
With his deep-rooted expertise in financial restructuring and debt recovery, Alade is expected to steer deliberations that touch on critical economic frameworks underpinning aviation sustainability.
Delivering the keynote address is aviation economist and Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, Dr Gabriel Gbenga Olowo. Widely regarded as a voice of authority in airline economics and travel distribution systems, Dr Olowo is set to offer incisive perspectives on the evolving landscape of aviation finance and its implications for growth in Nigeria and across the sub-region.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, will attend as Special Guest of Honour, underscoring the Federal Government’s policy focus on revitalising aviation infrastructure and enhancing access to funding for operators and allied service providers.
Also lending weight to the regulatory dimension of the discussions, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, will deliver a goodwill message on behalf of the apex aviation regulatory body.
He is expected to outline ongoing initiatives aimed at ensuring a transparent, investor-friendly regulatory environment conducive to capital inflow and sustainable operations.
The conference will host a robust panel of experts drawn from across the aviation value chain, including: Airline operators, airport management authorities, ground handling and logistics providers, aviation fuel suppliers and marketers, travel and tourism stakeholders, financial and insurance institutions, investment consultants and aircraft leasing firms.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, Mr Wole Shadare, said the 2025 edition comes at a time when bold, coordinated efforts are required to unlock the sector’s full potential.
“Our 29th annual conference is a timely intervention that aligns with ongoing reforms in the aviation industry. It will examine new opportunities and address long-standing bottlenecks that hinder sustainable financing. More importantly, it offers a forum where decision-makers and stakeholders can build consensus for the sector’s future,” Shadare noted.
The conference will also witness the unveiling of a commemorative publication titled “Celebrating Champions of Aviation Development,” a compendium profiling outstanding individuals, institutions, and sub-national governments that have played transformative roles in Nigeria’s aviation sector since the return to democratic governance in 1999.
Among the thematic issues on the agenda are:
Airport infrastructure development and financing
Aircraft leasing and funding strategies
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) funding challenges
Aviation fuel pricing and supply chain management
Regulatory reforms and passenger protection mechanisms
Airspace management and navigational infrastructure investment
Insurance, risk mitigation, and investment incentives in aviation
Industry-wide support for the event has grown steadily, with participation confirmed from domestic and international airlines, ground handling companies, state governments, financial institutions, aviation regulatory agencies, and travel professionals, cementing the LAAC conference as a key driver of aviation discourse in Nigeria.
The LAAC says it remains committed to fostering inclusive dialogue, influencing sound aviation policies, and honouring those who continue to shape the future of air transport in Nigeria.
For media enquiries or participation details, contact: Mr Wole Shadare, Chairman, LAAC Conference Committee +234 802 306 7883 and Tersoo Isaac Agber, Secretary, LAAC Conference Committee +234 703 707 5856.
