History was made today (Monday, November 18th, 2013) in Montreal, Canada
\nas the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) unanimously
\nelected a Nigerian and the first African, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu as the
\nPresident of the ICAO.<\/p>\n
The election, of Dr Aliu whose term commences on Januray 1, 2014 through
\nDecember 31st 2016, took place at the ICAO Council Chambers. The Proposal
\nof the Nigerian representative was made by his Singaporean counterpart, Ng
\nTeachiou and seconded by the representative from\u00a0 Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
All the voting members of the council, were called Country after country
\nto voice their position on the candidature of Aliu and they unanimously
\ndeclared their support for the Nigerian candidate. This was swiftly
\nfollowed by a unanimous vote and declaration of Dr Aliu as the new
\nPresident of the Council by then outgoing President Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez
\n. His declaration as the new ICAO helmsman was greeted with a thunderous
\novation and congratulations from fellow Council members.<\/p>\n
Gonzalez who presided over the election with the Secretary General Raymond
\nBenjamin, expressed satisfaction with the\u00a0 conduct and called on all
\nmembers to extend the same level of cooperation given to him to the new
\nPresident. He extolled the virtues of Aliu, expressing\u00a0 confidence that
\nthe Council and ICAO will grow from strength to strength under the new
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has
\ncongratulated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the government and people
\nof Nigeria as well as Dr Aliu on his election as the new President of
\nICAO. Oduah stated that Aliu\u201ds election, the first African to head the
\ninternational civil aviation body is a landmark event. She said the
\nvictory should be dedicated to the President who nominated and supported
\nthe country’s candidature all the way from beginning to the end.<\/p>\n
” The election of Dr Aliu is another historic moment for Nigeria’s
\naviation sector, coming shortly after the historic signing of the
\nBilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel. I want
\nto dedicate this victory to Mr President, who not only nominated Dr Aliu
\nfor the position, but also gave his full support for his candidature from
\nbeginning to the end. This victory would not have been possible without
\nhis full interest in Nigeria’s aspiration to lead the global aviation
\nbody. My congratulations go to him, the government and people of Nigeria
\nand Dr Aliu himself”, the Minister declared.<\/p>\n
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Dr George Ossi who led
\nthe Nigerian delegation and witnessed the historic moment inside the
\nChambers, thanked all member states and Council members for their support
\nand election of Nigeria’s candidate, Dr Aliu. ”On behalf of His
\nExcellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, the President of the
\nFederal Republic of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess
\nStella Adaeze Oduah, the good people of Nigeria and indeed Africa, I wish
\nto thank you all for the support and election of Dr Aliu as the new
\nPresident of the Council”, he said.<\/p>\n
He called on the Council to continue to support the new President,
\nstressing that ”your cooperation and collaboration with him will ensure
\nthat the Council and indeed ICAO as an organisation continues to promote
\nsafe, secure, efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable civil
\naviation globally”.<\/p>\n
In his acceptance speech, Aliu thanked the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele
\nJonathan for nominating him for the position as well as the
\n”Representatives on the Council and to all member states of the Council
\nfor electing me to the exalted office of President of Council”.<\/p>\n
He said he felt honoured and humbled by the trust and confidence reposed
\nin him and ”will do everything in my power to justify your confidence”.
\nAliu who has been Nigerias representative to the World body since 2006,
\nsaid he was ready for the challenge and will not fail Nigerians and the
\nglobal aviation Community in ensuring safer, more secure, efficient and
\nsustainable civil aviation industry” in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
History was made today (Monday, November 18th, 2013) in Montreal, Canada as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) unanimously elected a Nigerian and the first African, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n