By Efe Onodjae

Nigerian scientist and recipient of several prestigious international awards, Prince Ogungbangbe, has been named Chairman of the upcoming 2024 media summit on aviation.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), will serve as the special guest of honour and lead discussant and Engr. Umar Farouk, Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, will deliver the keynote speech at the event.

The conference, titled “Aviation Survivability Amidst Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,” is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 26, 2024, at Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. With Ogungbangbe, a renowned intercontinental energy strategist, as the conference chairman.

Ogungbangbe is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cita Energies Limited, the largest aviation fuelling company by airfield presence in Kano, Sokoto, Yola, Abuja, Uyo, Lagos (6), Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu, and Calabar (6).

He has held various roles in the past, including Quality Control Analyst at Faring Foods, Product Manager at Gateway Bank Plc, District Manager for Consumer Business at Pfizer/Neimeth International Pharmacy Plc, Product Manager at Intercontinental Bank, Business Development Controller at DN Mayer Plc, Aviation Business Manager at Conoil, Aviation Marketing Director at Sahara Energy Resources Ltd, General Manager at National Oil & Chemical Marketing Plc, General Manager at Chevron Oil, and General Manager of the Aviation Business Group (West & Central Africa) at MRS Oil (formerly Chevron Oil Nig. Plc) in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ogungbangbe is a certified fuel airfield inspector with international proficiency training in jet fuel from the American Petroleum Institute (API), American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Energy Institute (EI). An alumnus of Harvard Business School and Said Business School, University of Oxford, he also attended leadership courses at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Imperial College London.

The panel of discussants includes Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, former Rector of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria; Dr. Alex Nwuba, 2nd Vice President of the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI); Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN; Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services; Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria; and Mr. Olaniyi Adigun, Chairman of the Association of Ground Handlers of Nigeria (AGHAN). Capt.

Hamsu Yadudu, former Managing Director of FAAN, will moderate the panel session, which will address pressing issues in the aviation industry related to the theme.