Women In Aviation Honours Keyamo As ‘Man Of The Year’
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has been honoured with the prestigious Women in Aviation Man of the Year Award by Women in Aviation International, Nigeria Chapter, in recognition of his outstanding leadership, commitment to institutional development and transformative reforms in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The award was presented at the grand finale of the Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference 2026, held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotel, International Airport Road, Lagos, where the Minister was specially invited as the Father of the Day.
The Minister, who was represented at the occasion by his SA on Service Delivery, Janet Oputa, received the award on his behalf. It was presented by the President of Women in Aviation International, Nigeria Chapter, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, ICAO AVSEC PMM/Instructor, IAP, MNI.
The recognition underscores the Minister’s contributions to repositioning Nigeria’s aviation industry through policy reforms, infrastructure development, improved service delivery, institutional strengthening and initiatives aimed at creating a more competitive and sustainable aviation environment.
The 2026 conference, which commenced on Friday, October 30, featured a series of activities and engagements that brought together women in aviation from all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Representatives from the various zones were in attendance, showcasing the diversity, achievements and growing influence of women across the nation’s aviation ecosystem.
A major highlight of the conference was a high-level panel session themed “Clear for Takeoff: Women in Leadership and Engaging the Next Generation of Women in Aviation & Aerospace.”
The session brought together some of the most accomplished female professionals and industry leaders to discuss the importance of women’s representation in leadership, professional development, mentorship and strategies for inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.
Among the distinguished panelists were Mrs. Adenike Aboderin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO); Capt. Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide, the first female captain to fly the Embraer 195-E2 in Africa; Mrs. Aduka Atiba, Executive Director of Landover Company Limited and Overland Airways Limited; and Barrister (Mrs.) Mary Tufano’Eche, Director of Legal Services, NCAA.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was represented by Mrs. Christopher N. Wongmicit, General Manager, Research and Development, FAAN.
The panelists shared insights on breaking professional barriers, building inclusive leadership structures, expanding opportunities for women in technical and executive positions, and developing sustainable mentorship frameworks to prepare younger women for the future of the aviation industry.
The conference also featured presentations from the various Women in Aviation zones across Nigeria, highlighting their activities, achievements and contributions to advancing the organization’s objectives and promoting greater female participation in the industry.
The award to Minister Keyamo is particularly significant, as it reflects the recognition by women professionals in the aviation industry of the importance of supportive leadership, progressive policies and an enabling environment in driving the growth of the sector.
Women in Aviation International, continues to play an important role in promoting the advancement of women in the aviation and aerospace industries through advocacy, professional networking, mentorship, education and leadership development.
The 2026 conference concluded with a renewed call for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, greater investment in the next generation of aviation professionals and sustained efforts towards building a more inclusive, innovative and globally competitive Nigerian aviation industry.
