Olumuyiwa Aliu Elected As ICAO President

History was made today (Monday,
November 18th, 2013) in Montreal,
Canada
as the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) unanimously
elected a Nigerian and the first
African, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu as
the
President of the ICAO.
The election, of Dr Aliu whose term
commences on Januray 1, 2014
through
December 31st 2016, took place at
the ICAO Council Chambers. The
Proposal
of the Nigerian representative was
made by his Singaporean
counterpart, Ng
Teachiou and seconded by the
representative from Saudi Arabia.
All the voting members of the
council, were called Country after
country
to voice their position on the
candidature of Aliu and they
unanimously
declared their support for the
Nigerian candidate. This was swiftly
followed by a unanimous vote and
declaration of Dr Aliu as the new
President of the Council by then
outgoing President Roberto Kobeh
Gonzalez
. His declaration as the new ICAO
helmsman was greeted with a
thunderous
ovation and congratulations from
fellow Council members.
Gonzalez who presided over the
election with the Secretary General
Raymond
Benjamin, expressed satisfaction with
the conduct and called on all
members to extend the same level of
cooperation given to him to the new
President. He extolled the virtues of
Aliu, expressing confidence that
the Council and ICAO will grow from
strength to strength under the new
President.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister,
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has
congratulated President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan, the government and
people
of Nigeria as well as Dr Aliu on his
election as the new President of
ICAO. Oduah stated that Aliu”s
election, the first African to head the
international civil aviation body is a
landmark event. She said the
victory should be dedicated to the
President who nominated and
supported
the country’s candidature all the way
from beginning to the end.
” The election of Dr Aliu is another
historic moment for Nigeria’s
aviation sector, coming shortly after
the historic signing of the
Bilateral Air Services Agreement
(BASA) with the State of Israel. I want
to dedicate this victory to Mr
President, who not only nominated
Dr Aliu
for the position, but also gave his
full support for his candidature from
beginning to the end. This victory
would not have been possible
without
his full interest in Nigeria’s
aspiration to lead the global aviation
body. My congratulations go to him,
the government and people of
Nigeria
and Dr Aliu himself”, the Minister
declared.
Permanent Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Aviation, Dr George Ossi
who led
the Nigerian delegation and
witnessed the historic moment inside
the
Chambers, thanked all member
states and Council members for their
support
and election of Nigeria’s candidate,
Dr Aliu. ”On behalf of His
Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, GCFR, the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the
Honourable Minister of Aviation,
Princess
Stella Adaeze Oduah, the good
people of Nigeria and indeed Africa, I
wish
to thank you all for the support and
election of Dr Aliu as the new
President of the Council”, he said.
He called on the Council to continue
to support the new President,
stressing that ”your cooperation and
collaboration with him will ensure
that the Council and indeed ICAO as
an organisation continues to
promote
safe, secure, efficient,
environmentally friendly and
sustainable civil
aviation globally”.
In his acceptance speech, Aliu
thanked the President, Dr Goodluck
Ebele
Jonathan for nominating him for the
position as well as the
”Representatives on the Council and
to all member states of the Council
for electing me to the exalted office
of President of Council”.
He said he felt honoured and
humbled by the trust and confidence
reposed
in him and ”will do everything in my
power to justify your confidence”.
Aliu who has been Nigerias
representative to the World body
since 2006,
said he was ready for the challenge
and will not fail Nigerians and the
global aviation Community in
ensuring safer, more secure, efficient
and
sustainable civil aviation industry” in
the world.
http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/news/
nigerian-emerges-icao-president/

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