The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and its implementation challenges will take centre stage at the rescheduled SAPTCO Annual Lecture, now slated for January 7, 2027, in Lagos.

The lecture, which was initially scheduled for an earlier date, will be delivered by former Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Ms Iyabo O. Sosina, who played a key role in the launch of the continental aviation initiative during her tenure.

According to a statement by SAPTCO Managing Consultant, Mr Sam Adurogboye, the event will hold at 11:00 a.m. at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Training Suite, Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Adurogboye said the lecture would examine the implementation challenges confronting SAATM and explore ways of redirecting African leaders’ attention towards achieving the initiative’s objectives.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed his acceptance of the invitation to attend as Special Guest of Honour, while the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, will participate as Guest of Honour.

Former NCAA Director-General, Dr Harold Demuren, who delivered the inaugural SAPTCO Annual Lecture, is also expected to attend as Father of the Day.

Other expected participants include representatives of airlines, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as well as aviation media practitioners and other industry stakeholders.

The annual lecture will also serve as a training programme, providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss the future of African air transport, particularly the implementation of the Open Skies Policy, traffic rights and the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision.

Launched in January 2018 as an African Union initiative, SAATM seeks to establish a unified and liberalised air transport market across the continent by removing restrictions on intra-African air services.

The initiative is designed to improve air connectivity, promote competition, reduce airfares, stimulate trade and tourism, and support the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

However, years after its launch, the initiative has continued to face implementation challenges, limiting the realisation of its expected benefits for African aviation.

Adurogboye expressed optimism that the lecture would help renew attention to the initiative and encourage practical steps towards its effective implementation.

He said successful implementation of SAATM would improve connectivity across Africa, promote economic growth, reduce operational costs and deliver wider benefits to the continent’s aviation industry.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has conferred its prestigious Honorary Fellowship on the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, in recognition of her contributions to banking, financial services and the aviation industry.

The Fellowship was formally conferred on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Institute’s Fellowship Investiture Ceremony held at Harbour Point Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

With the recognition, Onabanjo-Kuku is entitled to use the professional appellation FCIB after her name, marking her admission into the highest level of membership of the Institute.

CIBN described Fellowship as a recognition of lifetime achievement and professional excellence, noting that the FAAN chief executive had maintained a strong relationship with the Institute through her participation in its activities and contributions to its committees.

The Institute also acknowledged her role as Special Guest of Honour at the 2025 Executive Development Programme (EDP)/Presentation of Practice Licence.

Onabanjo-Kuku’s professional career spans several senior positions in the banking, consulting and aviation sectors, including Assistant Vice President, Finance/Senior Financial Officer at the Bank of Montreal, Canada, and Partner in Business Consulting at Ernst & Young (EY).

She also served as Assistant General Manager/Head of Business Unit Strategy at Bank PHB Plc and Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Strategy and Infrastructure Development.

Beyond Nigeria, she serves as Vice President of Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, where she has contributed to the advancement of airport management and development across the continent.

Her conferment adds to the recognition of her professional experience and leadership across the financial services and aviation industries.

SAPTCO Communication Limited has suspended its 2026 Annual Lecture, earlier scheduled for November 5 in Lagos, with a new date to be announced later.

The lecture was expected to bring together aviation stakeholders to examine the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union initiative aimed at liberalising air transport and improving connectivity across the continent.

The Managing Consultant of SAPTCO, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, announced the postponement, noting that the earlier arrangements for the programme would remain unchanged.

The lecture was scheduled to hold at 11 a.m. at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Training Suite, Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

A former Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Ms. Iyabo O. Sosina, was billed to deliver the lecture, drawing on her experience with the development and launch of SAATM during her tenure at the continental aviation body.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, was expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour, while the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, was named Guest of Honour.

Other expected participants included representatives of airlines, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and aviation media practitioners.

Former NCAA Director-General, Dr. Harold Demuren, who delivered the inaugural SAPTCO Lecture last year, was also expected to attend as Father of the Day.

According to Adurogboye, the lecture was designed to renew attention to the objectives of SAATM, including the open-skies policy, traffic rights and the implementation of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision, which provides a framework for liberalising air transport services in Africa.

Launched in January 2018 by the African Union, SAATM seeks to establish a unified African civil aviation market by removing restrictions on air services between participating countries.

The initiative is also intended to improve intra-African travel and trade, reduce air transport costs and strengthen connectivity in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Adurogboye expressed concern that the initiative had yet to achieve its full objectives several years after its launch, stressing that effective implementation could improve connectivity, stimulate economic growth and reduce operational costs across the continent.

SAPTCO said a new date for the annual lecture would be announced in due course, while the previously announced programme arrangements would remain in place.