• ”We are poised to take AIB to higher level”

Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Akin Olateru, an aircraft engineer shone brightly at the just conclude Nigeria’s prestigious 9^th Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Awards as the he bagged the most outstanding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) award.

Olateru is the first recipient of the award which was voted for by important stakeholders in the air transport sector through online selection process.

Just last year, Olateru who was appointed a little over a year as Commissioner, AIB won the Most Innovative Aviation Leader of the Yea innovative aviation agency award for his outstanding performance which has been acknowledged by many in the aviation industry.

 Olateru is a multi-talented, resourceful Aviation industry professional with vast Airline and Air Transport management expertise. His industry experience and pedigree acquired in more than 28 years of versatile work exposure, criss-crosses the Aviation Industry in the UK, Europe and Nigeria, at hands-on operational, management and top executive levels.

His desire has always been to create a better and safer sky for the flying public, and has strategically grown his career pathway through the core aviation units of aircraft engineering maintenance, ground handling and passenger and cargo transport operations in the bid to becoming well-rounded and grounded in the business of air transportation.

As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses, he began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigerian Police Air Wing after which he left Nigeria for further studies abroad. During this period, he also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering and British Midland Airways.

He attended City University, London and graduated with an M.SC in Air Transport Management (the second Nigerian citizen to bag that degree), where amongst other specializations he studied and made in-depth research and simulations into accident investigations at post graduate level.

As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses, he began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigerian Police Air Wing after which he left Nigeria for further studies abroad. During this period, he also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering and British Midland Airways.

He attended City University, London and graduated with an M.SC in Air Transport Management (the second Nigerian citizen to bag that degree), where amongst other specializations he studied and made in-depth research and simulations into accident investigations at post graduate level.

He has successfully set up and managed two airlines, the latter being Omni-Blu Aviation Limited incorporated in 2013 and duly granted an Air Operators’ Certificate by the NCAA in December 2015. As CEO, he grew the company into a multi-million dollar organization in contracts and strategic partnerships within 12months of obtaining its license.

Since his appointment by the Federal Government on January 13, 2017, Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Akin Olateru, moved speedily to reposition the agency to one that is vibrant and result-oriented by first resuscitating its almost moribund accident laboratory, training and retraining of workers, signing of a pact with University of Ilorin for students to use it for research purposes and the release of over seven accident reports, including that of Dana that occurred in 2012, in an unprecedented manner. These also included recommendations that are far reaching. Olateru had released over 20 final reports since he assumed office. It was an unprecedented feat coming from the aircraft engineer.

Speaking at the event which held on Sunday at Oriental Hotels, Lagos, Head of the event committee, Mr. Fortune Idu said NIGAV over the past nine years has helped to maintain a balance between operational efficiency, industry vibrancy and service delivery by promoting healthy competition.

  A visibly elated Olateru said, “I thank God for being the first aviation CEO to win this award. It is a landmark achievement for me. It is a very wonderful experience. It has been a tough and 24 months. I have been on this for 23, 24 months but I thank God. One thing that is clear is that you need to believe in yourself, you need to be strong and you need to be bold. You need to believe that everything is possible and you will achieve”.

He promised that he and his management team are poised to take AIB to much higher level, adding that with the help of God, AIB will be an enviable organisation.

His words, “We are on that path. We have done a lot of infrastructural development; we have done a lot in terms of equipment, we have done a lot about human capital, air safety inspectors that were employed in 2013 but have not been trained. I have trained all of them. In processes and procedure, we have done a lot and by next year, we are reviewing regulation, it is ongoing. We have written to the airlines and we will get that done by next year.  A lot is coming next year”.

He thanked the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika for the support he had enjoyed, describing him as wonderful and a pillar of support.

He also thanked Senate and House Committee on Aviation for rallying round the agency to achieve all they have achieved in a short of time.

Wole Shadare