Lagos: A flight attendant from Value Jet, Henry Amaefule, and that of XEJet, Aisha Yakub, emerged King and Queen of the Air at the 2025 Nigeria Aviation Awards and Ministerial Dinner (NIGAV). The winners were crowned after a rigorous live selection process.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 2025 King and Queen of the Air were handed crowns by Tyger Opunabo of Arik Air and Miracle Okechukwu of Value Jet, who won in 2024. The new winners were given two million Naira each. Thirteen contestants participated in the contest, which was held in Lagos. Other contestants came from Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Ibom Air, and Arik Air, among other airlines.
Mr. Fortune Idu, the Chairman of the NIGAV committee, stated that the winners of the contest would initiate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that would directly impact airport communities and promote aviation safety best practices. Idu explained that as part of the CSR efforts, cash donations would be made to homes for the less privileged, and specific aviation safety-based community awareness campaigns would be carried out. He emphasized that the programme recognized the crucial roles of air hosts and hostesses in enhancing the overall air travel experience.
Idu further elaborated that the event serves as a platform to foster unity and healthy competition among Nigerian airlines, encouraging social interaction among the workforce to strengthen the nation’s aviation industry.
At the event, Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, was honored with the Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award and the Aviation Leadership Achievement Award in the Strategic Leadership category. Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, won the Aviation Agency Chief Executive of the Year Award.
Air Peace was awarded Nigeria’s Best West Africa Sub-Regional Airline of the Year, and Dr. Allen Onyema, the airline’s Chairman, received the Airline Chief Executive of the Year Award. The airline’s magazine, Alice, was recognized as the Best In-flight Magazine of the Year.
Aero Contractors won both the Best Compliant Management Airline of the Year Award and the Regional Aircraft Maintenance Agency of the Year Award. Arik Air was named the Most Passenger Friendly Domestic Airline, while Ibom Air received the Most Reliable Airline of the Year (On Time) Award. Value Jet won the Reliable Airline of the Year (On Time) Award, and XEJet was recognized with the Luxury Charter Flights Quality Service Award.
Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., won two awards: the Most All-Inclusive Airport Terminal Achievement Award and Nigeria’s Best Domestic Airport Terminal Award. FAAN received five awards, and the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc. was honored with the Airline Cargo Ground Handling Services Award.
NAN reports that other aviation players were also awarded and rewarded for their contributions to the growth of aviation in 2024.