The African Development Bank has appointed Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo as the African Champion for its Integrated Aviation Transformation Program for Africa, a continent-wide initiative backed by seven billion dollars in development financing designed to modernize the aviation sector and unlock regional economic integration across the continent.

The bank said Nigeria’s engagement with the program had been exemplary and that Keyamo’s appointment reflected the country’s leadership and vision in aviation policy reform. It noted that Nigeria had completed the IATP country survey, advanced initial work on the country compact, identified opportunities for aircraft financing, and was actively exploring the creation of a Nigerian aviation financing platform.

Keyamo has been invited to the African Development Bank’s annual meetings in Brazzaville on May 28, 2026, where a formal signing of a Letter of Intent between the bank and Nigeria will take place. The event will be hosted by Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group, and will focus on de-risking aviation and health systems through innovative finance.

The bank said African airlines currently accounted for less than three percent of global air traffic despite the continent housing nearly 18 percent of the world’s population. The IATP is designed to address this gap by mobilizing private, institutional, and concessional capital, de-risking aviation investments, and positioning the sector as a driver of regional integration and economic growth.

Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, said Keyamo was expected to bring his knowledge, commitment, and passion to drive the programme across the entire continent, and that the African Development Bank had expressed deep gratitude for his commitment to advancing aviation across Africa.