L to R:General Manager, Public Affairs, Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), Mr Tunji Oketunbi; Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kakangi; Commissioner/CEO AIB-N, Engr. Akin Olateru and Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Hajia Aisha Junaidu after the award of the Aviation CEO of the Year was bestowed on AIB-N Commissioner.
The Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N), Engr. Akin Olateru has bagged the Aviation CEO of the year award in recognition of his leadership quality, diligence and excellent contribution to the safety of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
The award, according to the statement issued by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi was bestowed on the Commissioner on Friday during the Travellers Award held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Appreciating the organisers for the honour, Olateru stated that the award is the dividend of hardwork while adding “it is also an incentive to do more to ensure safety of the Nigerian airspace.”
“I would like to thank all those that voted for me to be awarded the Aviation CEO of the year 2021. This is a way to boost our performances because as a public servant, you are not a shareholder in the organization. There is no profit that comes to you at the end of the day. So for people to see what we are doing and give us an award, that is our reward,” Olateru said.
He, however, dedicated the award to all the aviation CEOs in the country, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, and the ‘wonderful AIB team’ saying “Without them, I can’t do it alone”.
Since his assumption of office in 2017, Engr. Olateru and the Bureau have been recognised by several bodies for their outstanding leadership qualities in the aviation sector.
Some of the most recent and notable awards Olateru received include: Aviation Man of the Year 2019 at the Air Transport Industry Awards 2019; Outstanding Leadership Award at the 10th Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Awards 2019; and an Award for Excellence at the 21st Gathering of Africa’s Best (GAB) Awards in London.
The Commissioner was also bestowed with an award for Outstanding Humanitarian by the Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation at the 2019 ICCF Smile of Hope.
In the year 2020, Olateru was honoured with an Honourary Fellow of Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Risk Management Institute at the 2nd annual Special Emergency Preparedness Summit 2020.
During the National Transportation and Tourism Summit and Expo 2020, held in Abuja, the astute engineer was also decorated as an Honourary Fellow of the Institute of Tourism Professionals.
In 2021, the Commissioner was presented with the Aviation 100 Nigeria award in recognition of his contribution to the growth of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
He was also presented an award by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) in recognition of the Bureau’s timely release of accident and incidents reports which improves industry safety and his commitment to staff welfare and wellbeing.
The League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents LAAC, during its 25th annual conference, also honoured the Commissioner with the Aviation CEO of the Year 2020 award.
During the submission of the final reports by the Bureau to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Commissioner was presented with an award for his contribution to the safety of the aviation industry.
Other awardees at the Travellers Award include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), SAHCOL PLC, Dana Air, and Ibom Air, amongst others.
