Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for renewed commitment across Africa to strengthen Air Traffic Management (ATM) capacity through strategic investment in human capital. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 36th International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) Africa and Middle East Regional Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Keyamo urged African nations to prioritize the recruitment, training, and retention of skilled air traffic personnel to ensure safer skies across the continent.
In his keynote address themed “Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATM Capacity through Strategic Recruitment, Training, and Retention,” Keyamo emphasized that as air traffic expands across Africa, the need for well-trained and motivated air traffic controllers has never been greater. He noted that beyond technology, it is the professionalism and vigilance of air traffic controllers that safeguard millions of passengers daily.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to aviation safety and human capacity development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Keyamo highlighted the government’s 5-Point Aviation Agenda.
Through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), he said, Nigeria is modernizing its Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems, expanding training opportunities, and implementing initiatives to promote mental wellbeing and mentorship among air traffic controllers.
He further noted Nigeria’s growing collaboration with regional bodies such as BAGASOO to enhance safety oversight, accelerate ANSP certification, and strengthen the culture of safety across the aviation industry. Emphasising the importance of partnership, Keyamo remarked that aviation thrives on cooperation and shared responsibility, adding that “our skies know no borders; therefore, our success must also be borderless.”
The Minister commended IFATCA for its advocacy and commitment to professionalism and expressed gratitude to the Government of Zimbabwe and its Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, for their hospitality and the successful organization of the event. The gathering was attended by dignitaries including ministers from Ghana and Uganda, IFATCA President Helena Sjöström Falk, and the organization’s Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Ahmad Abba.
Concluding his address, Keyamo urged all participants to turn their discussions into actionable steps that will build a resilient, skilled, and motivated workforce capable of managing Africa’s increasingly complex skies. “May our deliberations here translate into real actions that enhance capacity, strengthen cooperation, and secure a brighter future for aviation in Africa and the Middle East”, he said.