…….. United Nigeria, Air Peace to sing partnership deal –Okonkwo
By Kemi Yesufu
Business mogul, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo is in a celebratory mood. The reason for his happy celebration is the first anniversary of his baby, United Nigeria Airlines. Okonkwo rolled out the drums to mark the one-year anniversary of United Nigeria Airlines on Saturday February 19. It indeed was a classy event when major players in the aviation sector joined the chairman of United Nigeria Airline, his friends, family, the management and staff of his company at the pool bar of The Dome Abuja to dine and wine in celebration of the milestone achieved by the airline.
Okonwo who is arguably one of Abuja’s best hosts, went round tables greeting guests and ensuring that they had a taste of the best of drinks and delicious cuisine served buffet style.
When it was time to speak at the gala Night/awards ceremony, Okonkwo, described United Nigeria Airline as a product of doggedness and resilience.
“Yes we are here celebrating one year of United Nigeria Airline, but it is just like we started yesterday. A couple of times, at different occasions, I have said, what we have gathered here to celebrate is a product of resilience”, he averred.
Okonkwo went down memory lane, saying, “I am not an aviator as you all know. I didn’t grow up wishing to be an airline operator as one of my ambitions…. This invitation into the aviation sector came to me from the Nigerian Air Force to partner with them to set up an airline where they were to operate and I invest by buying the aircrafts. We got into this collaboration, but as you know what happens in Nigeria, one government goes and another government comes and everything changes. I got the first aircraft based on this collaboration, but it never flew”.
“At some point, I said, I don’t start something without finishing it, I said to myself that I have to complete what I started, other things happened….this is the reason we are celebrating the fact that United Nigeria Airline is flying today”, he added.
Also during his speech, the United Nigeria Airline chairman announced a novel deal between his company and Air Peace that would revolutionize the aviation sector and usher in a new era of collaboration for better travel experience.
He said the new deal will be unveiled in the “next few days”, just as he commended regulatory agencies in the sector for dutifully keeping the airspace safe.
Okonkwo said the aviation industry in Nigeria was long overdue for this kind of collaboration. He noted that such partnerships enhance business and improve capacity of airlines to overcome certain issues that lead to flight delays.
“In the next few days, we are going to sign an agreement with Air Peace of collaborations that will improve travel experiences in the country and also help address certain problems that arise in the course of flight operations”, he announced.
“There are people who work 24 hours a day to keep airlines flying. We are happy with the regulatory agencies, especially the NCAA. These agencies have done so well in critical aspects of ensuring safety in the air. They are very tough on us, sometimes we feel we over regulated, but sometimes you look back and appreciate their professionalism”, he added.
Okonkwo also drew attention to the habit of passengers physically assaulting airline staff and also, destroying airline and airport property as a way of expressing anger over flight delays or cancellations.
Reminding passengers that the resort to such actions are uncivil, Okonkwo said airline staff and property are not in any way connected to issues that lead to flight delays and, or, cancellation.
“Those airline officials that are beaten up and the property that are destroyed are not in any way connected to factors that cause flight delays. Those airline officials that are assaulted are husbands, mothers, sisters, brother etc., of people. They are working for their pay and do not have any hand in reasons flights are delayed. I am happy that AON (Airline Operators of Nigeria) has condemned this development.
“People ought to understand that no airline operator takes delight in keeping his aircraft on ground. Operators make money when their aircraft is flying. Aircraft on ground is loss to operators. So, when delays or cancellations happen, they happen for the safety of the traveler.
‘Flight delays and cancelations happen in the aviation sector all over the world. When they happen, they are mostly for the safety of the passenger. So, I plead with our customers to show better understanding in this regard”, he said.
Commending the sixteen officials of the company who won different awards for their outstanding performance during the year, Okonkwo said that the striking development about the staff was that realization that almost all the awardees had no prior experience in the aviation sector but have worked steadily to become the best.
“It is interesting to note that all the awardees were people who did not have prior experience in the aviation sector. we employed them as greenhorns and have trained them to become the best. They were nominated by their colleagues for the awards and we make bold to say that this is a testimonial of our focus on human capital development.
‘Every job opportunity at United Nigeria Airlines, is also an opportunity to develop veritable human capital for the industry and we are glad that we have some of the best in the industry who have also applied their expertise to train and nurture these greenhorns”, Okonkwo stated.
Plaques for best performing staff of the year 2021 were presented to sixteen staff of the organization while Asaba won the best performing station alongside Osubi, which was decorated as the best United Nigeria Airlines First Anniversary celebration.
Senator Ben Obi gave the toast for the night, just as he prayed for a bigger and even more efficient United Nigeria Airline in the next one year. “May we be back here in next one year to celebrate more success stories from United Nigeria Airline. May we also in the next one year speak of United Nigeria Airline having united Nigeria. Yes, we have problems of unity but United Nigeria Airline will join hands with Nigerians to unite Nigeria better and more solidly than has ever been”, Obi stated.
The event was graced by officials of agencies in the aviation sector, members of the diplomatic corps, leadership of aviation companies and friends of the airline who were treated to great musical entertainment and dance.
See pictures from the event bellow:
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