September 3, 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, honoured with the prestigious “Minister of the Decade” Award by The Thisday Times as part of its centenary celebration.
The award was presented to Keyamo at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, during the Thisday Times @100 Times Heroes Awards, which recognised distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to national development and public service.
Keyamo was recognised for his leadership and contributions to the transformation of Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace sector, including efforts to improve human capacity, aviation safety, infrastructure, investment, and international connectivity.
The Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the heads of all agencies under the Ministry, including the Ag. Vice-Chancellor of the African Aviation and Aerospace University Abuja, Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, Ph.D, FCMI, FInstTA.
Reacting to the recognition, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor said he was not surprised by the award, describing Keyamo as a performer who believes strongly in competent delivery, measurable results and sustainable development.
According to the Ag. VC, the rapid advancement recorded by AAAU is also a reflection of the Minister’s commitment to sustainable human capital development, particularly his belief that institutions can only deliver effectively when they are built around competence, professionalism and the right people.
“I am not surprised by this recognition. The Minister is a performer who believes in competent delivery and measurable results. This is one of the principles that AAAU is benefiting from. His commitment to sustainable human capital development has contributed significantly to the rapid advancement of the University and its emergence as a specialised institution for aviation and aerospace education,” the Ag. Vice-Chancellor stated.
The Honorable Minister in his remarks, dedicated the award to the Chief Executive Officers of the aviation agencies, all staff of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the entire aviation industry stakeholders, acknowledging their collective contributions to the progress recorded in the sector.
