Flashback to the 29th edition of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Annual Conference, which was held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at GRA Ikeja, Lagos, provided a critical platform for reshaping the financial narrative of Nigeria’s aviation industry. The conference Themed: “Aviation Financing in Nigeria: The Risks, Opportunities and Prospects,” this year’s gathering spotlighted practical solutions and innovative tools to address the sector’s persistent financing gaps, particularly amid ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms.
Leading the discourse, LAAC Chairman Suleiman Idris examined the challenges of aviation financing in Nigeria and explored new sustainable financing models designed to strengthen airlines, airports, and aviation service providers. He urged stakeholders to move away from outdated borrowing practices and toward long-term investment strategies that integrate private sector participation, local capital markets, and international green financing initiatives.
“The industry cannot rely on short-term loans or ad hoc government support. We must embrace innovative financing mechanisms that drive resilience, efficiency, and sustainable growth,” Idris said.
Complementing the LAAC discussions, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Aviation Chapter recently convened a hybrid meeting that reinforced the link between financial resources and technical accountability. Mr. Ayodele Olatiregun, FCA, Chairman of the ICAN Aviation Chapter, commended members for their active engagement and emphasized the need for deeper collaboration among chartered accountants across the aviation ecosystem.
According to the report, a major feature of the ICAN gathering was the inauguration of new sub-committees tasked with clearly defined goals and performance indicators. These groups, focusing on areas such as Fund-Raising, Advocacy, University Relations, Technical Development, and Government Relations, are expected to enhance member participation while positioning the Chapter for greater sectoral impact.
The conference also featured a high-profile technical session led by finance expert Dr. Olumuyiwa Adebayo, FCA, who examined the application of key financial ratios and performance metrics within the aviation sector. Dr. Adebayo highlighted how strategic use of these tools can optimize operational costs, improve efficiency, and ensure that airlines and aviation stakeholders maintain a balance between financial performance and sustainability priorities.
He further emphasized the critical role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks in modern aviation management. Integrating ESG into business strategies, Dr. Adebayo explained, not only strengthens compliance and corporate responsibility but also unlocks access to green financing and enhances investor confidence. The session generated robust engagement like LAAC Conference from members, reflecting a shared commitment to raising technical and governance standards in the industry.
Sub-committee chairman, Dr. Adebayo also pushed the conversation toward global best practices with “The ESG Imperative.” He noted that integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks into airline and airport operations could unlock new investment opportunities, particularly through access to international climate funds and partnerships with global aviation players. “Sustainability is not just about reducing emissions, it is about securing the industry’s social license to operate and attracting capital that demands responsibility,” he told the gathering members.
With these developments, the ICAN Aviation Chapter is positioning itself as a catalyst for efficiency, sustainability, and growth in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem. Coupled with LAAC’s leadership in pioneering sustainable financing strategies, the combined efforts signal a new era where aviation finance is not just about raising funds, but about managing them responsibly and strategically to support long-term sectoral resilience.
Mr Celestine Ukpong economist and investor savvy based in Lagos added that the combined impact of LAAC’s financing advocacy and ICAN’s governance blueprint paints a powerful reflection for Nigeria’s aviation future. Where past industry debates often centered on regulatory bottlenecks and infrastructure deficits, the 2025 conference shifted the conversation to financial health and long-term resilience.
A takeaways from industry stakeholders at the two events showed that this alignment between journalists, accountants, regulators, and operators signals a maturing ecosystem. Aviation finance is no longer a background discussion, it is now the front line of industry survival.
As the LAAC Conference led the road ahead in aviation sector, one truth stood out: Nigeria’s aviation industry will not be judged solely by the number of planes in the sky, but by its ability to finance them sustainably, manage them responsibly, and align with global sustainability standards.
“We’ve moved beyond asking ‘how do we fly?’ The challenge now is ‘how do we fly sustainably and safely while making a profit in Nigeria aviation?’”
As Nigeria’s aviation industry navigates a landscape marked by fiscal reforms, operational challenges, and global sustainability pressures, the collaboration between LAAC and ICAN demonstrates that the future of aviation depends on the dual principles of funding innovation and disciplined accountability.
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