Meet our Esteemed Speakers

Mr. Theodore Obiora Chikelu is an accomplished aviation, logistics and business development executive with over 25 years of experience across the Nigerian and African aviation industries.

He holds a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. His professional experience spans airline operations, commercial management, route development, corporate business development, strategic planning and aviation management.

Mr. Chikelu is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jet Afrique Aviation Services Ltd, a Lagos-based aviation support, supply chain and business development company with interests across West and Central Africa. Its activities include aviation consultancy, airline charter brokerage, freight and logistics, warehousing, cold-chain solutions, travel and tourism, and multimodal transportation.

Before establishing Jet Afrique in 2014, Mr. Chikelu held various positions across Nigeria’s airline industry, with experience at Executive Airlines Services, Earth Airlines, Bellview Airlines, Sosoliso Airlines, Aero Contractors and Arik Air. At Arik Air, he served as Associate Vice President, Commercial – Africa, while also serving as Project Manager for Regional Route Development and Operations.

He later founded Chante Afrique, a tourism development and destination management initiative focused on ecotourism, destination promotion, cultural engagement and African development. He also served as Managing Director/CEO of Tranex Plc from 2018 to 2021.

Mr. Chikelu has provided strategic and consultancy support to emerging airline projects and maintains professional relationships across Africa, the United States and the Caribbean.

A strong advocate for regional connectivity, local content, sustainable development and strategic partnerships, he believes in building integrated aviation and logistics value chains that create tangible economic value and strengthen the movement of people and goods across Africa.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Mr. Chikelu brings his extensive industry experience to conversations on aviation connectivity, route development, logistics, investment and the future of air transport across West & Central Africa.

Prof. Anthony Kila is an academic, strategist and thought leader whose expertise spans strategy, leadership, development, governance and institution building, with a particular interest in the systems and structures that shape organisational and national growth.

He is the author of Strategy Systems and Power in Flight: Lessons in Strategy, Leadership and Institution Building from Aviation, a work that examines lessons from aviation through the lenses of strategy, leadership and institutional development.

Prof. Kila serves as Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development at the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), where he contributes to the advancement of strategic and professional education.

He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU), providing leadership and strategic direction at the institution's highest governance level.

Within the travel and aviation ecosystem, Prof. Kila is the Founding Chairman of Sabre Africa Travel Network, further strengthening his engagement with the systems, institutions and networks that support the growth of Africa's travel industry.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Prof. Anthony Kila will deliver the Keynote Address, bringing his strategic expertise to a gathering focused on aviation, tourism, investment, connectivity and institution building across West & Central Africa.

His keynote will provide a strategic lens on the leadership, systems and institutions needed to transform the region's aviation and tourism potential into sustainable economic opportunity.

Ms. Fatmata Mida Carew is the first female substantive Executive Director of the Sierra Leone National Tourism Board since its establishment in 1991. With an academic background spanning Political Science, Development Studies, Sustainable Tourism and Marketing, she has built a distinguished career in Sierra Leone's tourism sector.

Under her leadership, the Board has pursued new tourism-generating markets, expanded its international outreach and strengthened Sierra Leone's presence across key global tourism markets, including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Canada and the United States.

Ms. Carew has demonstrated remarkable institutional leadership and continuity, serving through the tenures of nearly 12 political ministers while maintaining a consistent focus on the development and promotion of Sierra Leone's tourism sector.

Her work is driven by a commitment to sustainable tourism development, destination promotion and the preservation and promotion of Sierra Leone's rich cultural heritage.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Ms. Carew brings her experience in tourism leadership and destination development to conversations on tourism, connectivity, sustainable growth and the opportunities for deeper integration across West & Central Africa.

Ms. Tolu Ita is the Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager of Enugu Air and a business leader with over 17 years of cross-functional experience across aviation, FMCG and organisational management.

Her expertise spans aviation management, corporate governance, policy, stakeholder engagement, business development, strategic partnerships and programme oversight. She has worked with governmental, private and multinational organisations on high-impact projects and enterprise solutions.

Her aviation experience includes involvement in operational initiatives, change management, governance and policy, as well as collaboration with international partners and government stakeholders to strengthen operational and institutional outcomes.

Ms. Ita has also served in advisory capacities within the aviation sector, including supporting the Nigerian Member of the ICAO Flight Operations Panel and contributing to the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Policy Review Team.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Ms. Ita brings her experience in aviation leadership, operations and strategic development to conversations on connectivity, aviation growth, regional integration and the future of air transport across West & Central Africa.

Ms. Precilia Ogun is a senior financial services and payments executive with over two decades of experience spanning banking, digital payments, corporate banking, business partnerships and financial technology.

She began her career with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (now GTCO Holdings) in 2003, where she progressed through various roles and rose to become Group Head, Digital Banking. During her tenure, she led the growth of the bank’s corporate card business and developed strategic partnerships with global payment and money transfer platforms.

In 2021, Precilia joined OPay Digital Services Limited as Director, Head of Cards Consumer Business, contributing to the growth of OPay’s digital card business. She currently serves as Director, Airlines & Transportation Vertical, where she leads strategic partnerships and develops innovative collection and payment solutions for businesses across the aviation and transportation sectors.

Her work focuses on leveraging digital payments, financial technology and strategic partnerships to drive customer acquisition, revenue growth, operational efficiency and financial inclusion.

Precilia holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan and an MBA from Nexford University, Washington, D.C.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, she brings her expertise at the intersection of finance, payments, aviation and technology to conversations on digital transformation and building a more connected and efficient aviation and tourism ecosystem across West & Central Africa.

Mr. Karl Hala is a distinguished hospitality executive with nearly five decades of international experience across four continents, 14 countries and 21 cities.

He spent 35 years with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), building an extensive career in hotel operations and strategic leadership across multiple international markets. His IHG career culminated in nine years as Director of Operations for Africa, where he was instrumental in driving operational excellence, hotel openings and strategic growth across the continent.

His international leadership experience spans cities including Vienna, Munich, Amman, Petra, Nairobi, Lusaka, Livingstone, Sharm El Sheikh, Belgrade, Kingston, Budapest, Warsaw and Addis Ababa, giving him a uniquely broad understanding of hospitality across diverse markets.

Following his tenure with IHG, Karl undertook strategic hospitality assignments in Kenya and with Ethiopian Airlines, before returning to Nigeria to take on his current role as Group General Manager of Continental Hotels Nigeria.

Widely recognised as a hospitality leader with deep continental experience, Karl is passionate about developing future leaders, elevating service standards and strengthening Africa's hospitality ecosystem.

His career reflects the critical connection between hospitality, tourism, aviation and economic development, with a focus on building businesses and experiences that can compete effectively on the global stage.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Karl Hala brings this wealth of experience to conversations on hospitality, tourism development, service excellence, investment and the role of stronger aviation and tourism ecosystems in positioning Africa as a global destination.

Dr. (Farmer) Moji Davids is a globally recognised agritourism pioneer, agribusiness strategist, international keynote speaker and tourism development advocate.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, engagement across 15+ countries and a reach spanning 5 continents, she works at the intersection of agriculture, tourism, hospitality, food security and sustainable economic development.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, she brings her expertise to conversations on agritourism, tourism development, food security and the opportunities for inclusive economic growth across West & Central Africa.

Website Bio:

Dr. (Farmer) Moji Davids is a globally recognised agritourism pioneer, international keynote speaker, agribusiness strategist and development advocate whose work focuses on the intersection of agriculture, tourism, hospitality, wellness, culture, education and enterprise development.

Widely regarded as a leading voice in agritourism, she has dedicated more than 20 years to exploring how agriculture and tourism can work together as drivers of wealth creation, food security, entrepreneurship, community transformation and sustainable prosperity.

Her work reflects a strong belief in the transformative potential of integrating agriculture with tourism and hospitality to create new economic opportunities while strengthening local communities and food systems.

Dr. Davids is Co-Founder and Group Managing Director of Xtralarge Farms and President and Host of the World Agritourism Festival. Her work has taken her across 15+ countries and five continents, engaging diverse communities and stakeholders around the potential of agritourism and sustainable development.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Dr. Moji Davids brings her expertise in agritourism, tourism development, agribusiness and food security to conversations exploring how tourism can create wider economic value and strengthen sustainable development across West & Central Africa.

Dr. Iyadunni Atinuke Gbadebo is a transformational business leader and Director of Sales and Marketing at Eko Hotels & Suites, Nigeria’s flagship corporate hospitality brand. Since assuming the role in 2011, she has led sales, marketing, branding, business development, promotions and large-scale event management across the hotel’s extensive hospitality portfolio.

She has played a leading role in developing major commercial and experiential initiatives, including Tropical Christmas Wonderland, Theatre@Eko Hotels and Hakuna Matata Theme Park, contributing to the growth of Eko Hotels as a major hospitality and entertainment destination in West Africa.

With more than two decades of executive experience, Dr. Gbadebo's career spans hospitality, aviation, tourism, media, marketing and business development. Prior to Eko Hotels, she held senior roles including Commercial Director at Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, where she was involved in business development and revenue generation for Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, as well as roles with North American Airlines and Wakanow.

She is also the founder and CEO of BGV Limited, a sales and marketing consultancy, and has built businesses and initiatives across hospitality, wellness, tourism and lifestyle. Her leadership extends to tourism development through her role on the Board of Trustees of Eko Tourism Foundation.

Dr. Gbadebo is the author and researcher of the Lagos Smart Tourism Index Report (2025) and author of Destination Africa: 30 Proven Strategies for Marketing Africa’s Finest Destinations, reflecting her commitment to destination intelligence, tourism marketing and sustainable tourism development across Africa.

At AeroWest Summit 2026, Dr. Gbadebo brings her extensive commercial and hospitality experience to conversations on tourism, aviation, destination development, hospitality, investment and the future of travel across West & Central Africa.