…Cites safety culture, rapid growth, capacity building
…Says Okonkwo steered airline through covid turbulence
The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has been conferred with a gold medal award by the Institute of Nigerian Aeronautical Engineers (INAE), in recognition of the airline’s safety culture, capacity building and rapid growth despite a turbulent economic climate.
The award, presented by the national president of INAE, Dr. Ebitei Charles at the International Conference Fellowship Conferment which held in Lagos on Wednesday, is reserved for individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field of aeronautical engineering. INAE, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) regulated by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), said Okonkwo was honoured for steering UNA’s rapid expansion in the five years since its inception, especially at a time there was a global economic downturn as a result of covid. Though Prof. Okonkwo was not present to receive the award in person, he was represented by the airline’s Director of Continuing Airworthiness, Alex Iheuwa, and the Chief Pilot, Capt. Joan Obasi-Ibraheem.
Dr, Ebitei said the recognition reflects a shared commitment to advancing safety standards, modernising infrastructure, and building indigenous engineering capacity, priorities the institute says align closely with UNA’s own. He also said the council is appreciative of the airline’s internship programme for aeronautical engineering students, describing it as a quiet but impactful contribution to grooming the next generation of talent. He also commended the airline’s rigorous safety culture and its role in inspiring resilience and professionalism within Nigeria’s aviation workforce, despite the difficult operating environment. According to the institute, these efforts are helping to build the kind of specialised engineering capacity the aviation industry needs to optimise aircraft performance, cut the high costs associated with maintenance, and secure long-term sustainability for Nigerian carriers.
UNA was not the only airline celebrated at the event. Arik Air and Xejet were also honoured, while the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, were each conferred with honorary fellowships of the institute.
Reacting to the honour, Prof. Okonkwo described it as a validation of the airline’s founding philosophy. He said the recognition affirmed everything the airline had worked to build which is an operation rooted in safety and sustained investment in capacity.
The award adds to a growing list of milestones for the carrier, which has weathered difficult challenges since its inception. At the unveiling of two new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft in Lagos in June, Okonkwo recounted one of the airline’s challenging times which was when a batch of 23 pilots sent to South Africa for training were stranded for nine months after international airspace shut down during the covid-19 pandemic. He said some fell ill and none could return home, yet the airline continued covering their hotel bills and paying salaries throughout the ordeal. Reflecting on how the carrier pulled through, he said that the airline kept flying and that was what kept it alive.
UNA commenced commercial operations in February 2021 and has since built a diverse, modern fleet. It now operates to than 15 routes, including Accra, Ghana. Its growth has continued this year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Guinea-Bissau to help establish a national carrier for the country. UNA has also secured the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, joined the IATA Clearing House, and been admitted as a Full Member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).
