Kuku Attends First ACI WGB Meeting as Regional Adviser for Africa , Emphasises Airports Enhancement
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku has attended her first meeting as the Regional Adviser for Africa at the recently concluded Airports Council International (ACI) World Governing Board meeting in Milan, Italy, on March 27, 2025.
According to the FAAN Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, who made this known in a press release, Mrs. Kuku was nominated for the position at the ACI Africa Conference held in Johannesburg in September 2024.
This is a crucial milestone for Mrs. Kuku and FAAN, as it signposts FAAN’s growing role in shaping global aviation policies and enhancing the representation of African airports on the international stage.
Her participation in the ACI World Governing Board meeting marked a significant milestone in enhancing Nigeria’s influence in global aviation. Her presence underscored Africa’s commitment to sustainable aviation growth, strategic partnerships, and improved airport operations. The discussions and initiatives presented at the meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the future of African aviation, fostering long-term progress and excellence in the industry.
The ACI World Governing Board comprises 28 CEOs from regional board members, ensuring that the collective interests of ACl’s global membership are represented. The board defined strategic directions for the airport industry, focusing on capacity building and fostering sustainable growth across the global airport community.
Mrs. Candice McGraw, Chair of the ACI World Governing Board, formally welcomed FAAN’s MD/CE to the WGB. She highlighted the growing importance of Africa in global aviation and acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in driving regional progress. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa; Mr. Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World; and other board members representing various regions worldwide.
The meeting covered crucial topics related to the future of the global aviation sector.They include: Long-Term Carbon Goals Review: An assessment of the industry’s sustainability objectives and strategies for reducing carbon emissions, Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program: Updates on the ACA initiative aimed at enhancing airport sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework: Strengthening ESG initiatives within airport operations and Airport Concession Modes study: Evaluating different modes to optimize airport concessions and management.
A key area of focus during the discussions was the advancement of Africa’s aviation industry. Several initiatives were presented to support the growth and development of airports across the continent. The following initiatives were presented by the Secretary General, ACI Africa : African Airport Certification Assistance Program: A toolkit designed to assist African airports in achieving international certification standards, ACI Africa’s African Airport Development Program: This flagship initiative aims to empower African airports in management, operations, and capacity building by promotions knowledge and expertise development across the continent, Training and Capacity Development: Providing classroom and online courses for aviation professionals, Developing specialized courses tailored to African airports’ needs, Offering financial support, including scholarships, for training programs, Technical and Operational Assistance: Supporting airports in achieving or maintaining certification status, Assisting in drafting essential regulatory documents such as acrodrome manuals, emergency plans, and safety management systems, Conducting on-site assessments in areas such as safety, security, and operations.
The meeting emhasised the importance of strategic partnerships between African airports, ACI Africa, and ICAO to advance the continent’s aviation sector in the following areas: The establishment of a collaborative framework to enhance airport certification efforts, Defined performance metrics for evaluating African airport development and Increased support for African airports in achieving operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
