It is with great sadness we announce that Nick Fadugba, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of African Aviation, recently died.
The entire African Aviation family mourns his loss. On behalf of the whole Team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Nick’s family.
Nick Fadugba established African Aviation Services (AAS) in 1990 with the pan-African vision of promoting aviation development throughout Africa. He believed that aviation could be a vital catalyst for Africa’s economic and social transformation. Since 1988, he provided a wide range of consultancy and advisory services to international aviation, finance and leasing organisations and to African Governments.
He was also instrumental in fostering business relations between Africa and the international aviation community in critical areas such as Aviation Finance, Aircraft Leasing, Aircraft Maintenance, Air Safety and Aviation Training.
READ: News: Africa and the Needs for MRO by Nick Fadugba of African Aviation
Nick had unique experience in aviation finance and aircraft leasing negotiation, arbitration and dispute resolution in Africa. Other areas of speciality included developing airline business plans; fleet planning; aircraft leasing and finance advisory services; airline route network development; market information research and analysis; reconciliation of aircraft leasing / finance accounts and debt recovery; negotiating acquisition of airport slots and air traffic rights; and establishing London Heathrow Airport operations for foreign airlines.
He was appointed an Interim Non-Executive Director to the Board of South African Airways on 9th December, 2020, and acted as Chairperson of SAA Technical until April, 2023. He was elected Chairman of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) in May, 2018, handing over the Chairmanship last year.
He was a former elected Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA); a Launch Member of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) and Vice Chairman of its Safety and Training Committee; was Chief Advisor to the Association of African Aviation Training Organisations (AATO); a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAes), UK; a member of the Aviation Club of the UK; a member of the German Aviation Research Society (GARS); the European Aviation Club; the Institute of Directors (IOD), UK; the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), USA; a Volunteer for Airlink, the international aviation charity, and a member of the ISTAT Scholarship Program for African Students.
In 2021, he was elected as a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading Foundation (ISTAT Foundation) which was founded in 1994 to support individuals and institutions that promote the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism. He worked on the ISTAT Foundation’s Grants Committee which manages fundraising and programming that meets the Foundation’s objectives.
Nick helped pioneer international aviation conferences focusing on aviation finance, leasing, aircraft maintenance and aviation training, specifically tailored for Africa, providing a unique forum for African and international airlines, airports, aviation, finance and leasing organisations, industry regulators and Government officials to discuss key commercial, financial and regulatory issues affecting the African aviation industry and to seek practical solutions through mutually-beneficial co-operation.
In 1990, he also helped pioneer aviation publishing in Africa with the launch of AFRICAN AVIATION, Africa’s Aviation Industry Journal, to promote the African aviation industry globally. For over 30 years Nick organised the Air Finance Africa Conference, the MRO Africa Conference, as well as other aviation events.
Background:
- Co-Chaired first ‘Air Finance’ Conference in Tokyo, Japan, in 1988 for Aircraft Lessors & Financiers.
- Co-Chaired European Air Transport Conference in London, in 1988, with UK Minister of Transport.
- Appointed by the Federal High Court of Nigeria as a Member of the Committee of Inspection in the Liquidation of Nigeria Airways (2004).
- Appointed Communication Adviser to the Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in 2002 with a mandate to further contribute to revamp and polish the image of the Association internationally.
- Invited as a Speaker or Moderator at numerous International Aviation Conferences organised by major bodies, including ICAO, IATA, ACI, AFRAA, AFCAC, US FAA, US NTSB, National Civil Aviation Authorities, GE Aviation and Embraer.
- Africa representative, Governing Board, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), Montreal, Canada, an ICAO affiliate.
Nick has an MSc (Distinction), in Air Transport Planning & Management from the University of Westminster, London, UK and was the MSc Dissertation Prize Winner. He also held a Post-Graduate Diploma, Air Transport Management from Cranfield University, UK and a BSc (Honours) in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He attended Airport Economics and Finance Courses at the University of Westminster, London, UK as well as Regional and Low Cost Air Transport Courses, University of Westminster, London, UK. He also attended Boeing Leadership Seminars, Boeing Learning Center, USA.
Awards:
- In 2000, he was presented with a Plaque by the USA National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for ‘Outstanding Contribution and Service to Aviation Safety.’
- In December, 2003, he was presented with an Award by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) for “Outstanding Contribution to the African Aviation Industry” presented by then Head of State of Libya, Col. Muammar Gadaffi.
- In 2018, he was presented with an Award by the Aviation Round Table (ART), Nigeria, for “Invaluable Support and Contribution to the Upliftment of Aviation Safety in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.”
- In 2023, Nick was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for his “Extraordinary service and dedication to AATO” from the Association of African Aviation Training Organisations (AATO).
