MEBAA Convention News

AfBAA Turns Corner as it Seeks New Leadership

 - December 12, 2018, 2:07 AM

Preparations are well underway for the African Business Aviation Association’s regional conference, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on January 28-30, 2019.

The event will be officially opened by Gilbert Kibe, director general of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and will be attended by African jet and turboprop aircraft operators and international aviation service providers and suppliers, according to AfBAA chairman, Nick Fadugba.

He added that a key component of the conference will be the AfBAA Aviation Safety Seminar sponsored by Bombardier, aimed at enhancing aviation safety in Africa. In addition, “for the first time ever, AfBAA will explore the challenges and opportunities in both Africa's business and general aviation industries and the synergies that exist.”

“We are pleased with the positive response by the African and international aviation industry to this new initiative in Kenya,” Fadugba told AIN. “AfBAA is fully committed to serving the needs of its members throughout the continent, as well as to seeking the support of African governments and civil aviation authorities for business and general aviation in Africa.”
Fadugba added that the key challenges facing AfBAA today are to grow its membership in Africa, providing added-value services to its members, and to become financially sustainable.

The association has gone through a significant leadership transition this year with the appointment in May of Fadugba as chairman and National Airways executive J.P Fourie as vice-chairman, and the end of the six-year tenure of former executive director Rady Fahmy in November. “A new executive director will be appointed as soon as possible,” said Fadugba, adding, “The MEBAA 2018 show in Dubai has provided AfBAA with a valuable opportunity to keep abreast of international industry trends and to meet existing and potential new members.”

Fadugba also praised Ali Alnaqbi, founder and chairman of MEBAA, for his vision and leadership as well as for extending a hand of friendship and co-operation to the new leadership team of AfBAA. “We look forward to a mutually beneficial dialogue between MEBAA and AfBAA and to positive results,” Fadugba concluded.