Stakeholders in the aviation sector have called for a formidable interagency relationship and collaboration to drive sustainable growth in the industry.

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday at the 2024 Management Lecture of the Aviation Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).

The event, held in Lagos, had the theme “Growth mindset for sustainability in a disruptive aviation sector.’’

It was to commemorate the World Management Day celebrated globally on December 6 every year.

A partner at Creative Aviation Solutions, Tonye Briggs, said that due to headwinds in the industry, the thinking level had changed.

He said that there was a need for collaboration.

Mr Briggs said that a growth mindset was necessary in a dynamic and evolving sector such as aviation.

“The aviation sector is evolving; it is very dynamic; so, industry players, regulators and private sector operators need to imbibe this growth mindset. There has to be more collaborations because there are headwinds confronting the industry; that is why the level of thinking has to change.

“There is the need for more inclusiveness and more collaborations to achieve more,” he said.

Mr Briggs highlighted the disruptive factors in the industry as technology adaptation, regulatory innovation, sustainable operations, environmental sustainability and customer expectations.

He advocated airport viability, encouraging agencies to look into airport tourism, review business models and build resilience.

He also urged the use of environment-friendly aviation fuel.

The Chairman of the chapter, Tai Akinro, said that the lecture was to enable members of the group to have relevant information for achieving excellence in the industry.

“Today, at the chapter level, which is the aviation sector, we brought members together to discuss relevant issues that will help them, especially as we aim to promote best practices in the aviation sector. This is to realise President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ aimed at a better Nigeria, and there cannot be a better Nigeria without better leadership. Therefore, being professional managers, we are playing our role by developing the capabilities of our members.’’

Mr Akinro encouraged the members to be professional and maintain integrity while carrying out their businesses.

The Director of Human Resources, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Lukman Emiola, said that the industry had been on a steady growth trajectory in the last year.

Mr Emiola said, “The aviation industry, in terms of infrastructure and in terms of regulation, is on a steady rise. Once we get the commitment in terms of human resources, infrastructure, regulation and compliance, we will be able to compete globally.”

The director urged the group to be more intentional and committed.

The deputy general manager of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Funso Otubusen, said that changes should characterise a growth mindset.

“It means that you need to unlearn some things and then learn some new things. Also, we must look at the area of inclusiveness, especially with the generations that we want to hand over to,” he said. 

(NAN)