Meet our Esteemed Speakers

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR is a Nigerian statesman, diplomat and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and was democratically elected President, serving two terms from 1999 to 2007.

A prominent advocate of African cooperation and regional integration, President Obasanjo served as Chairperson of the African Union from 2004 to 2006 and has played significant roles in continental diplomacy, mediation and peacebuilding.

Recognised as a UN Peacemaker, he has contributed to international mediation and conflict-resolution efforts across Africa, including in the Great Lakes region, Angola, Burundi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo brings decades of leadership, diplomacy and Pan-African experience to conversations on the future of aviation, tourism, connectivity and economic integration across West & Central Africa.

Hon. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) is the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he provides leadership on national aviation policy, infrastructure development, air transportation, safety, security and the growth of Nigeria’s aerospace sector.

Since assuming office, he has been involved in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, improve regulatory and safety standards, advance infrastructure development, support the growth of indigenous airlines and position Nigeria as a stronger aviation hub within Africa.

His portfolio places him at the centre of critical conversations around air connectivity, airport infrastructure, aviation financing, investment, regulatory reform and the long-term competitiveness of African aviation.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Hon. Festus Keyamo will contribute his perspective to conversations focused on strengthening aviation and unlocking greater connectivity, investment and economic opportunity across West & Central Africa.

Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin is the Secretary to the State Government of Lagos State, where she plays a strategic role in coordinating government policy, programmes and inter-agency collaboration in support of the State’s development agenda.

As a senior public-sector leader in Nigeria’s leading commercial and economic hub, she contributes to initiatives spanning governance, infrastructure, investment, economic development and strategic partnerships.

Her role places her at the intersection of public policy and the private sector, particularly in a city where aviation and tourism play an important role in connecting people, businesses and markets.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin will bring the Lagos State perspective to discussions on aviation, tourism, infrastructure, investment and the development of stronger regional connectivity across West & Central Africa.

Ms. María Milagrosa Nchama-Nzoho Abeso is an Equatoguinean tourism and public administration professional with more than 15 years of experience across tourism development, destination planning and management, tourism promotion, air transport and commercial management.

She holds a Diploma-Degree in Tourism from the University of Alicante, Spain, as well as a Master’s Degree in Tourism Planning, Spatial Planning and Development. She has further specialised in areas including tourism destination management, air transport, customer experience, the cruise sector, eco-sustainability, cultural tourism and commercial tourism.

Throughout her career, Ms. Nchama-Nzoho Abeso has held several senior positions within Equatorial Guinea’s tourism sector, including Director General for Tourism Development and Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism, Inspector General of Services and Head of the Tourism Planning and Spatial Management Department.

Her professional experience also extends to aviation, where she served as Commercial Director of Ceiba Aeropuertos S.A. and held responsibilities in Corporate Commercial Management and at Equatorial Guinea's national airline, Ceiba Intercontinental.

Since July 2026, she has served as Secretary of State for Information, Press, Culture and Tourism of Equatorial Guinea, with responsibility for the tourism portfolio. In this role, she contributes to policies aimed at strengthening tourism as a tool for economic diversification, promoting Equatorial Guinea as a destination and enhancing the value of its natural, cultural and heritage assets.

Her commitment to regional tourism cooperation is further demonstrated by her creation of the Central African International Tourism Fair – Equatorial Guinea (FITAC-GE) between 2020 and 2021. The initiative was conceived as a platform for tourism promotion, cooperation and exchange across Central Africa.

She has also contributed to international conversations on tourism through academic and professional forums and was appointed in 2025 as a member of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics of UN Tourism, recognising her commitment to responsible, sustainable and ethical tourism development.

Her career brings together tourism planning, destination promotion, aviation, public administration and commercial management, with a strong focus on using tourism to support economic and social development while strengthening Equatorial Guinea's position as an international destination.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Ms. Nchama-Nzoho Abeso brings this perspective to conversations on tourism development, destination promotion, aviation connectivity, sustainability, regional cooperation and the role of tourism in driving economic diversification across West & Central Africa.

H.E. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, GA is the High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana and Nigeria and Ambassador of Barbados to Liberia. She is also a distinguished healthcare executive, attorney at law and international project manager with more than 20 years of global experience across the healthcare sector.

Her career has included leadership and project management roles with Caribbean governments, academia, consulting firms, hospitals and clinics. Known for breaking barriers and leading complex transformation and crisis-management initiatives, she has held senior responsibilities in challenging healthcare environments.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led Barbados' national hospital and isolation centres, contributing to the country's internationally recognised COVID-19 response.

In her current diplomatic role, she is focused on expanding Barbados' footprint and strengthening relationships across Ghana and West Africa.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, H.E. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland brings her diplomatic, leadership and international project experience to conversations on connectivity, cross-regional partnerships, investment and stronger economic relationships between Africa and the Caribbean.

Mr. Philip Ikeazor, FCIB, FCA, FCTI is the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He brings extensive experience across banking, financial services and economic management, having held senior leadership positions within Nigeria’s financial sector and international banking institutions.

His professional experience spans banking leadership, financial system stability, economic policy and institutional management, giving him a broad perspective on the role of finance in supporting sustainable economic growth.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Mr. Ikeazor brings this financial and economic policy perspective to discussions on aviation financing, investment, infrastructure and the financial frameworks required to strengthen aviation and connectivity across West & Central Africa.

Capt. Chris Ona Najomo is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the statutory body responsible for regulating Nigeria’s aviation industry.

With more than four decades of experience spanning piloting, aviation leadership and regulation, Capt. Najomo brings extensive knowledge of Nigeria’s aviation sector and its regulatory landscape.

He was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate as the substantive Director General of the NCAA in February 2025, following his tenure in the leadership of the Authority.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo brings his regulatory and industry experience to conversations on aviation safety, regulation, connectivity and the development of a stronger and more sustainable aviation ecosystem across West & Central Africa.

Ms. Ola Wright is a visionary tourism strategist, transformational leader and influential voice in regional and sustainable tourism development, with more than three decades of experience spanning business leadership, tourism consulting, administration, international relations, destination development and marketing.

She has worked extensively with governments, international organisations including USAID and the World Bank Group, private-sector stakeholders and development agencies across Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

Ms. Wright currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO), where she leads strategic efforts to advance regional integration, tourism cooperation and destination marketing across West & Central Africa.

Under her leadership, WATO has advanced initiatives including the West Africa Integrated Travel (WAIT) project and West Africa Ecotourism Network (WAEN), alongside programmes focused on ecotourism, agro-tourism, cultural heritage and regional tourism capacity building.

She is also the founder of Freedom Pilgrims, a cultural and heritage tourism initiative connecting the African Diaspora with their ancestral roots, heritage and identity.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Ms. Ola Wright brings decades of tourism leadership and regional experience to conversations on connectivity, destination development, sustainable tourism, regional integration and the economic potential of tourism across West & Central Africa.