… as FAAN MD attends first meeting as Africa’s Regional Adviser
The just concluded Airports Council International (ACI) World Governing Board (WGB) meeting held in Milan, Italy, among other things brainstormed on the need for African Airports to form strategic partnerships for further development and growth.
The meeting held on March 27, 2025 was the first meeting attended by the Managing Managing Director/Chief Executive (MD/CE) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, in the capacity of the Regional Adviser for Africa.
Kuku was nominated for the position at the ACI Africa Conference held in Johannesburg in September 2024.
Chair of the ACI World Governing Board,
Mrs. Candice McGraw, formally welcomed FAAN’s MD/CE to the WGB. She highlighted the growing importance of Africa in global aviation and acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in driving regional progress.
This was a crucial milestone for Kuku and FAAN, as it signposts FAAN’s growing role in shaping global aviation policies and enhancing the representation of African airports on the international stage.
Kuku’s participation in the ACI World Governing Board meeting marked a significant milestone in enhancing Nigeria’s influence in global aviation.
Her presence underscored Africa’s commitment to sustainable aviation growth, strategic partnerships, and improved airport operations.
The ACI World Governing Board comprises 28 CEOs from regional board members, ensuring that the collective interests of ACI’s global membership are represented.
The board defines strategic directions for the airport industry, focusing on capacity building and fostering sustainable growth across the global airport community.
The discussions and initiatives presented at the meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the future of African aviation, fostering long-term progress and excellence in the industry.
The meeting emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships among African airports, ACI Africa, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to advance the continent’s aviation sector through the establishment of a collaborative framework to enhance airport certification efforts.
Defined performance metrics for evaluating African airport development, and increased support for African airports in achieving operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
Other crucial topics discussed at the meeting related to the future of the global aviation sector, including Long-Term Carbon Goals Review; Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Programme; Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework; and Airport Concession Models Study.
A key area of focus during the discussions was the advancement of Africa’s aviation industry.
Several initiatives were presented to support the growth and development of airports across the continent.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary General of ACI Africa, Mr. Ali Tounsi; Director General of ACI World, Mr. Justin Erbacci; and other board members representing various regions worldwide.