MINISTER of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reemphasised the importance of workforce to the success of any organisation or company.
Speaking at a book launch authored by an aviation journalist, Albinus Chiedu, titled, ‘Nigeria’s Aviation Sector: People, Behaviors Behind the Performances,’ Keyamo, while describing the book as a guiding light for policy makers, industry professionals or anyone with a vested interest in the progress of the industry, stressed the need for the focus on the workers behind the performances of any company.
In his remarks on the book, Keyamo said: “The insights within these pages will serve as a guiding light for policy makers, industry professionals, and anyone with a vested interest in the progress of Nigeria’s aviation sector. By focusing on the people behind the performances, we are reminded that the heart of any successful industry lies in its workforce and their collective behaviours.”
The minister who described the book as not just a collection of facts and figures; but also an insightful exploration of the human element that drives the country’s aviation sector, added that the value of the book cannot be overstated.
He added: “At a time when Nigeria is striving for excellence in all sectors, understanding the behavior’s and attitudes that influence performance in the aviation sector is crucial.
“Albinus Chiedu has meticulously captured the essence of what makes our aviation industry thick, providing a blueprint for future improvements and a deeper appreciation of the industry’s complexities. This book is particularly relevant now, as we are in an era of transformation and growth.”
The book reviewer, a firmer managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr Richard Aisubeogun described the book as very inviting and loaded with the power for building curiosity.
“To players in the industry who believe that the industry has improved significantly over the years, this title drives their urge to grab the book and peruse the pages to see those people that the author must have described as people behind the performances, and find out whether they have been probably enlisted among such achievers.
“To those who feel that the Nigerian aviation industry has not lived up to expectations over the years, the title builds aspiration within them to reaffirm their position that the industry has not done well and more importantly, to identify those who the author is possibly blaming for the perceived industry woes.
“The title of the book, “ *Nigeria’s Aviation Sector: People, Behaviours Behind The Performances* ,” is, therefore, very inviting and loaded with the power for building curiosity. You would agree with me that the author deserves applause for applying such creativity to the title. Several books on aviation have been published with diverse titles in recent times, but this one is peculiar.”
Welcoming stakeholders to the public presentation of his book, Albinus Chiedu went down the memory lane, stating how when he came into the sector in year 2000 he observed the positive and negative behaviours on the part of both leadership and followers hip injury the sector.
According o him, a combination of good behaviours and bad behaviours by people in the sector in the last 24 years, have combined to bring the industry where it is today.
“It is because of human behaviour that I can categorically say that judging the performances of the industry in consideration of expectations or aspirations depends largely on the perspective of whoever is the judge. Although, I admit the fact that I may be too small to claim to know so much about the industry that has so many elders and experts, you would agree with me that it takes a dispassionate mind to actually arrive at an objective declaration of exactly “what ar guan,” as our Jamaicans brothers would say.”
Describing human behaviour as critical in success and safety as seen in how human factors have been blamed by most air accident investigation for accidents/incidents, Chiedu added: “For an airport for instance, there is an alternate airport. For a pilot on commercial scheduled operation, there is a co-pilot. For a radar, there is a back-up radar, and so on. As long as the humans that operate and manage the systems, the processes and the industry itself do not violate required principles, rules and regulations as well as procedures, success is inevitable.
“Nigeria’s air transport industry can gain its rightful place in the global aviation market. This book is my little contribution to accessing the better future that I see for Nigeria’s aviation industry. Therefore, I urge our policy decision makers and every stakeholder to kindly read the book, make further researches and expand on the issues therein in the interest of the future”.
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