Oduah named Champion Newspapers Man of 2012

Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has been named Champion Newspapers Man of 2012. According to a statement by the group managing director and editor-in-chief of Champion Newspapers Limited, Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, Oduah was picked by the top echelon of the media organisation after careful consideration of all the feats she has been able to achieve in the 18 months while steering the aviation industry.

The aviation minister is the third recipient of the award after Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos and Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

The media organisation said like the previous two awardees; Oduah went through a thorough process against stiff competition.

The event billed to be held in Lagos on 19 February 2013, will have vice-chancellor of Federal University, Ndufe-Alike; Ebonyi State professor, Oye Ibidapo-Obe as the guest lecturer.

Professor Ibidapo-Obe who was the former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), will deliver the lecture with the theme: "Value-Driven Leadership as the Key to National Development."

Iheakanwa also revealed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. will be the chairman of the event.

Senator Anyim will pilot proceedings in this year's award and steer the course of the entire event, giving it direction, glamour and all the sense of seriousness it deserves as the award is a benchmark for excellence.

Oduah, who was appointed by president Goodluck Jonathan to pilot the affairs of the aviation industry on 4 July 2011 has been excellent focusing her agenda both on safety and infrastructural development.

After assuming office, she went on to announce her roadmap with the remodelling, reconstruction of all 22 airports in the country in phases and already the remodelling has started reaching fruition with nine being over 80 per cent complete and two commissioned.

In October 2012 the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Pius Anyim Pius, was on ground to commission the first of the projects, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) rebuilt from scratch to top at the frugal sum of N648 million.

On Monday, 21 January, the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, was on ground in Abuja to commission another GAT, this time in Abuja.

Under her remodelling exercise, the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport abandoned for close to 50 years has gotten a face lift and has become a true model for air travel in the country.

Same goes for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport abandoned for 34 years but now being transformed into an epitome of aesthetics with expansion ongoing at both the D and E Fingers, new conveyor belts coming in to make the terminal work.

There is also the keen interest in convenience of passengers who use the airport with the refurbishment and replacement of facilities in and around the airport with the aim of making customers get value for being at the airport and not regret.

Oduah is also currently driving the process of re-establishing a national carrier for the country after it was unceremoniously buried in 2003 by President Olusegun Obasanjo by fiat.

According to her, this is a project close to her heart and she has received boosts from the Senate President, David Mark and his Deputy, Senator Ekweremadu, much recently and they have charged her to accomplish this task as they are solidly behind her.

Source: allAfrica