Abuja Ijaw community elects new executives
The Ijaw community, Abuja chapter has inaugurated new executives and commended the Amnesty Programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying it would restore peace in the Niger Delta region.
Members of the new executive include Mrs. Eberiebo Okeze (JP), Chairman; Christopher Biddi (Secretary General), Braye Odiowei (Vice Chairman), Sam Amana (Assistant Secretary), James Akpalakpa (Organizing Secretary), Edward Alagoa (PRO), Daniel Simeon (Provost), Mrs. Dorcas Toruemi (Woman Leader). The new commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr. Akin Olateru has assumed duties at the agency headquarters at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
He said that his vision at the agency is to make it the biggest in the nation’s aviation industry while appealing to the management and the entire staff to cooperate with him in order to move the agency forward.
Olateru commended the immediate past commissioner, Dr. Felix Abali for improving the parastatal from where he met it and keeping it together over the years.
Olateru’s aviation experience
Other appointees include Mr. Inabiebu Simeon, special adviser to the chairperson on religion matters and Mr. Solomon Oghe, Chairman Taskforce/ CSO, Ijaw Community Abuja chapter.
Speaking, Chairman of the community, Comrade Ebierebo Okeze (JP) noted that the Amnesty Programme in the region has brought positive impacts on the youths of the area, who are becoming acquired in 27 years cuts across the Aviation Industry in the UK, Europe and Nigeria.
An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licences, he began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigeria Police Air Wing from where he left Nigeria for further studies abroad. He also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering UK and British Midland Airways UK.
On his return to Nigeria in 2003 and armed with an M.SC in Air Transport Management from the City University, London (the 2nd Nigerian citizen to bag that degree at the time.
Mr. Olateru worked with self-reliant.
Okeze particularly hailed the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters and coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Paul Boroh for his efforts in bringing peace and development to the region.
She called on Ijaw community, both at home and in diaspora, to unite and speak with one voice, to attract necessary development to the community and to enthrone peace in the area and Nigeria in general. Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SHACOL) a 100% government owned company prior to its Privatization.
There he served sundry roles including Head Safety and Quality Assurance and Group Head Operations, Marketing and Business Development.
He has set up and managed two airlines, the latter being Omni-Blu Aviation Limited incorporated in 2013 and duly granted an Air Operators’ Certificate by the NCAA in December 2015.
Akin Olateru is also a full member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, United Kingdom and a Chartered Member of the United Kingdom Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.