The African Development Bank (AfDB) has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as the Champion of the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa (IATP).
The official appointment was delivered via a formal letter addressed to the minister, endorsed by Mike Salawou on behalf of the financial institution.
According to the AfDB, Nigeria has demonstrated exceptional leadership during the foundational phase of the initiative.
The continent-wide programme is structured as a strategic framework designed to “mobilise private and institutional capital, de-risk investments, and transform aviation into a driver of regional integration and economic growth across Africa”.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s active involvement, the AfDB emphasized that the Federal Government has successfully executed the initial IATP national assessment, made substantial progress on the country-specific framework, and mapped out viable pathways for aircraft acquisition financing within the country.
“Nigeria’s engagement has been exemplary: the Federal Government has completed the IATP country survey, advanced initial work on the country compact, identified concrete opportunities to finance aircraft in Nigeria, and is actively exploring the creation of a Nigerian aviation financing platform. This level of commitment positions Nigeria as one of the IATP’s foremost country champions, and the Bank is deeply grateful for your Ministry’s leadership and vision. It is in this spirit that the Bank is pleased to appoint you as the Champion of the Integrated Aviation Transformation Program for Africa (IATP),” the statement partly read.
In tandem with the appointment, the financial institution extended an invitation to Keyamo to contribute to a high-level panel convening during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the AfDB.
“As the IATP Champion, we are elated to have you at our high-level side event on the margins of the 2026 Annual Meetings, titled ‘Platform Solutions for Africa’s Transformation: DeRisking Aviation and Health Systems through Innovative Finance’, to be held on 28 May 2026, from 08:00 to 09:00, hosted by Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, the President of the African Development Bank Group,” it added.
The correspondence noted that Keyamo’s engagement at the session would offer a strategic platform to showcase Nigeria’s aviation restructuring masterplan to international development partners, institutional financiers, commercial airlines, and industry regulators, while simultaneously advocating for the IATP as a broad investment framework.
The AfDB indicated that Keyamo will play a pivotal role in structuring the aircraft acquisition finance segment of the initiative, including ongoing frameworks to establish a domestic aviation financing model that could be replicated across other African nations.
The bank further maintained that the minister’s designation as the IATP champion will serve to market Nigeria’s ongoing aviation regulatory reforms to global financiers, guide the operational design of a continental aircraft financing system, and solidify alliances aimed at achieving cross-border aviation synergy.
Additionally, the AfDB confirmed that Nigeria will participate in the formal execution of the IATP Nigeria Country Compact, marking a critical phase in the practical rollout of the initiative.
“Following the discussion, we warmly invite you to attend the signing ceremony of the IATP Nigeria Country Compact (time TBC) — a landmark moment that formalizes Nigeria’s role as a founding country partner of the IATP and marks the transition from strategic engagement to country-level implementation. Nigeria’s early commitment — reflected in the completion of the survey, the work on the country compact, and the active identification of aircraft financing opportunities — has set a standard of engagement that we hope will inspire other Member States to follow. We look forward to welcoming you as a signatory and champion of this historic step for Africa’s aviation sector. The African Development Bank looks forward to welcoming you and to celebrating Nigeria’s leading role in shaping a new era for aviation finance in Africa,” the bank added.
