Nigeria has obviously added a feather to its nest with the successful hosting of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum (IWAF).
The global event which commenced November 20th and 22nd, 2017 though was the third in its series, but it was unique in the sense that it was the first time the forum will be held outside Montreal, the headquarters of ICAO.
The icing on the cake was that Nigeria became the first in Africa to host the critical event.
The successful hosting of the event became more interesting in the sense that leading the over 192 nations countries that made up the ICAO membership to Nigeria was the Nigerian born ICAO Council President, Dr, Bernard Aliyu who is serving his second tenure on the council.
Recalled that Aliyu was the first African to hold the position but his ability to perform creditably well on the council will go a long way in paving the way for other qualified personalities across the continent to have another opportunity to occupy the position.
The hosting of the ICAO event by Nigeria will go a long way in not only shoring up the image of the country, but also attract global investors who prior to now had reservations about aviation business in the country.
To say the hosting of the event by Nigeria will greatly open up the country’s aviation sector to the outside world may not be an over exaggeration as seen in the careful packaging of the theme of the conference: ‘’Financing the Development of Aviation Infrastructure’’, coming at a time the domestic airlines are faced with the challenge of aircraft financing from aircraft manufacturers and financial institutions.
The forum will also explore the benefits of the aviation sector to the social, economic development and prosperity of ICAO member states and to identify needs and facilitate funding and financing required to accelerate the implementation of the international civil aviation global standards and policies as well as plans for aviation.
Looking at the huge turn out of international aviation experts including the ICAO global body, it has only indicated that the aviation world held Nigeria in high esteem.
It was therefore not surprising to witness the heavy presence of the country’s federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari coming to open the event.
It is however hoped that the government will ensure that the opportunity so far created by the conference will not be allowed to slip the aviation sector and the country at large by ensuring that it created a more friendly environment that will attract international investors into the country particularly now that the government is talking about plans to concession its four international airports.besides, the IWAF conference would be an opportunity to discuss some of the financial challenges in the aviation industry in Nigeria and provide solutions that would be beneficial.
Apart from the fact that the forum will further correct the wrong notion about the country and its aviation sector before the world, it will equally afford Nigeria to rub minds with the ICAO member states on how to get out of the challenges confronting it.
The Crucial Moment really commended the ICAO President, for making Nigeria realize it’s dream of hosting the forum in view of its numerous benefits not only to the country but the entire Africa.
The resilience of the minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika with the hardworking displayed by the Chief Executives of the various aviation agencies will also not be forgotten in the successful hosting of the forum.
and then