Hard work, seems often, a burden but sets someone apart, or distinguishes him or her, and ultimately, can also make one great.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), appears to be one of the few Ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet who has given a face of capacity for the administration, compelling many people to believe in the genuine desire of the government to impact millions of lives, despite the seemingly temporary hardship in the landscape that have come with the implementation of some reason reforms.
Industry experts have inarguably observed that in the last 21 Months, Minister Keyamo has sustained and pushed for enhanced safety standards in the aviation industry through the revalidation of airline operators and strict compliance with international regulations, Among such initiatives is the Cape Town Convention, which has already, increased Nigeria’s compliance index.
The Minister is also championing the upgrade of infrastructure in the sector, including airport renovations and the development of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, a step, which interestingly, is helping to reduce heavy reliance on foreign services.
NewsQuest investigation revealed that another significant impact that Minister Keyamo has made through his leadership style of the aviation sector, is the security of vital international routes for Nigerian airlines – a step that has fostered partnerships with global aviation giants like Boeing. This obviously, enhances the nation’s global aviation presence.
Besides, industry watchers agree that the efforts of the Minister are fast improving Nigeria’s position as a potential aviation hub, thereby, boosting investors’ confidence and contributing to economic growth.
While congratulating Minister Keyamo on the occasion of his 55th birthday, in January this year, President Tinubu himself, acknowledged the transformative and commendable leadership of Keyamo, which continues to attract to him, several awards.
In February this year, Keyamo bagged an award from the New Telegraph newspaper as ‘Best Minister of the Year’, which the organization said was a catalyst to encourage him to perform better.
Minister Keyamo has since dedicated the New Telegraph award to his workforce whom he described as dedicated and supportive, assured that his best is yet to come at making the Aviation Industry in Nigeria, the hub in Africa.
The Aviation Minister at the weekend in Lagos also received another top recognition “The Sun newspaper Minister of the Year 2024”
This is what Keyamo said of the award, “Thank you, The Sun Publishing Limited, for this honour. This award is extremely encouraging, and extremely exciting to me.
“The Sun is one of the major national newspapers in the country. Anywhere in the world where a news outlet of this level recognizes you, it is an endorsement of the highest quality.
“Without putting down other media houses, this is a highly policy-oriented media house that scrutinizes government policies at an intellectual level. Looking at what has been said as the reason for this award shows that The Sun has been following what we are doing.”
These are not the only awards to Keyamo’s credit since his appointment in 2023 by President Tinubu. An Ireland-based newspaper, The Street Journal in June last year, also, conferred on Minister Keyamo the award of ‘Super Minister’ in an assessment of President Tinubu’s government’s first year in office.
The newspaper said Keyamo during the period succeeded in restoring dignity and confidence to the aviation sector with innovative reforms in line with global best practices in promoting national security interests.
In January this year, Midwest Herald also decorated Keyamo with the “Minister of the Year Award”, in recognition of the visible changes and innovations at the Airports across the country; the strict monitoring and supervision of airlines operating in Nigeria, as well as major institutional reforms that he has introduced for the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
These awards seem not to have an end in coming because what the Minister is presently doing, is only natural. With his true nature and character. Keyamo has proven over the years that his background as a Lawyer combined with his sincere desire to serve, nothing can be short of delivery success.
