Aviation safety expert, Olateru receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Engr. Olateru displays his award
Nigerian born aircraft maintenance engineer, Akin Olateru has been bestowed with the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for the exceptional leadership and array of transformations he brought to bear at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) when he served as its pioneer Director General.
The renowned multi-talented and globally recognized resourceful aviation professional with vast air transport management expertise was among other prominent personalities honoured at the 4th edition of Nigeria’s aviation industry leading news channel, the Air Transport Quarterly Magazine’s Industry Award held in the Nigerian commercial city of Lagos.
Organisers affirmed that the prestigious award is a tribute to Engr. Olateru’s exceptional leadership, vision, and contributions to the field of aviation safety, adding that as a renowned expert in aviation safety, he left an indelible mark on the industry’s inspiring generations of aviation professionals.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prince Supo Atobatele, Publisher of ATQ Magazine explained that among Engr. Olateru’s significant achievements was initiating and bringing to fruition the metamorphosis of the former Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) into the current Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and turning it into a multi-disciplinary agency.
The transformation, Supo added has expanded the agency’s mandate to investigate safety occurrences in the maritime, rail, and road transportation modes, in addition to aviation.
He further told the august audience that Under Engr. Olateru’s leadership, the NSIB has become a model for safety investigation agencies globally, the product of his vision, expertise, and collaborative approach that enabled the agency to develop a robust safety investigation framework, leveraging cutting-edge technology and international best practices.
“Olateru’s commitment to safety extends beyond his professional responsibilities. He has been a vocal advocate for safety awareness, education, and training, working tirelessly to promote a safety-first culture within the transportation industry.
Publisher of ATQ Magazine, Prince Supo Atobatele (left) presenting the Lifetime Acheivement Award Engineer Olateru in his office
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute to Engr. Olateru’s remarkable achievements, dedication, and contributions to aviation safety and beyond. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate safety professionals, ensuring that safety remains a top priority across all modes of transportation.” The ATQ Magazine publisher said further.
Akin Olateru, as an aviation professional has developed vast knowledge in air transport management expertise at operational, senior management, and boardroom levels across globally including the United Kingdom, Europe and Nigeria spanning over 35 years.
He holds an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license from Nigerian, UK and USA and an M.Sc. in Air Transport Management from City University, London as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, UK; a Fellow of the United Kingdom Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers.
The aviation management guru is also a member of the prestigious Chatham House, UK and has attended various leadership and management courses in top-tier institutions including the famous London School of Economics, and the prestigious Harvard Business School Boston, USA where he bagged the Certificate of Management Excellence (CME).
He founded Omni-Blu Aviation Limited in 2013, a private Nigerian commercial airline with the intention to exploit untapped areas of burgeoning opportunities in the country’s aviation sector that were otherwise not given due attention.
The golf enthusiast alongside his team has since grown the business into a multi-million-dollar organization serving discerning clients, institutions, and businesses with ‘beyond first class’ air transportation and business aviation services, across multiple sectors.
His tenure as Director-General of Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau saw the release of various accident reports hitherto laying on the shelf of the agency while the many recommendations therein has redefined safety adherence policy and re-positioned Nigeria’s airspace as one of the safest globally.
