Keyamo, Aviation Stakeholders to Explore Sector Financing at LAAC Conference in August
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will join top industry stakeholders at the 29th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), where the focus will be on tackling the pressing issue of aviation financing in Nigeria. The event is scheduled to take place on August 7, 2025, at the Providence Hotel in GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
Themed “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects”, the conference is expected to attract key players across the aviation value chain, including airline executives, airport operators, aircraft leasing companies, fuel marketers, insurance firms, financial institutions, ground handlers, and regulatory bodies.
According to LAAC’s Conference Planning Committee chairman, Wole Shadare, this year’s gathering comes at a crucial time for the Nigerian aviation industry, which continues to face significant funding challenges. He emphasized the need for a serious conversation around sustainable financing frameworks that can unlock growth in the capital-intensive sector.
“The aviation industry is at a critical point. Without deliberate financial strategies and innovation, the sector will struggle to reach its full potential. This conference is designed to bring stakeholders together to explore practical solutions,” Shadare said.
Minister Festus Keyamo will attend as the Special Guest of Honour, underlining the federal government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for aviation development. His presence is expected to bring political weight to the discussions and highlight the administration’s willingness to engage with both private and institutional investors.
Also billed to speak is Gbenga Alade, the Managing Director and CEO of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), who will chair the conference. Alade’s experience in financial restructuring is expected to add value to conversations on de-risking aviation investment and promoting public-private partnerships.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Gabriel Gbenga, Chairman of Sabre Central and West Africa, who will examine the economic realities facing Nigerian airlines and suggest new models for financing airline operations and infrastructure.
In addition, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, will deliver a goodwill message, signaling the regulator’s support for financing reforms and enhanced collaboration across the sector.
This year’s edition of the LAAC conference is drawing interest from a wide range of institutions and corporate entities looking to contribute to or benefit from the financing conversation. Among them are commercial banks, aviation financiers, aircraft lessors, and international development agencies.
The discussions are expected to touch on several core issues, including access to credit, currency volatility, funding for airport infrastructure, fleet modernization, risk-sharing mechanisms, and the role of government policy in attracting sustainable investment.
As Nigeria continues to expand its aviation footprint—especially with recent moves to modernize airport terminals and improve air navigation systems—the financing gap remains one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. Industry insiders believe that outcomes from this conference could inform future policy direction and unlock pathways to greater financial inclusion and investment in aviation.
The LAAC conference has become a respected platform for policy dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and solution-oriented discussions. With the aviation sector being a vital component of Nigeria’s transportation and economic development agenda, this year’s conference could play a key role in shaping its financial future.
