The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is in Dublin on a working visit as a special guest at the 8th Africa–Ireland Trade Horizon Conference, a platform dedicated to enhancing bilateral relations and promoting trade and development cooperation between African nations and Ireland.
The annual event brings together government officials, business leaders, and development partners with a focus on building strategic collaborations in key sectors, including the civil aviation industry.
A statement from the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, confirmed the visit, noting that Keyamo’s participation aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to deepen international partnerships in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his address at the conference, the Minister is expected to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to modernising its aviation infrastructure, expanding human capital development, and leveraging global best practices through strategic alliances.
Technical Visit to Newcastle Aerodrome Aviation School
As part of his itinerary, Keyamo—accompanied by the Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, Mrs. Ibiyemi Ajiboye-Roberts—paid a technical visit to Newcastle Aerodrome Aviation School in County Wicklow.
The delegation was received by Mr. John Nugent, CEO of the aviation school, and was taken on a tour of the institution’s facilities, which include a fleet of Viper SD4 trainer aircraft, advanced flight simulation labs, classrooms, and maintenance hangars.
Discussions during the visit centred on a potential partnership between the Irish aviation school and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. Proposed areas of collaboration.
Keyamo commended the institution for its high standards in aviation training and expressed appreciation for the warm reception.
He emphasised Nigeria’s openness to partnerships that will build local capacity, promote innovation, and strengthen the nation’s aviation value chain.
The visit underscores the Ministry’s broader commitment to repositioning Nigeria as a regional aviation hub through strategic global engagement and the development of world-class training and infrastructure.