By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Nigeria has announced Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) as ‘The Most Innovative Ground Handling Company in the country.
This was at the 23rd Annual Conference and Awards of LAAC held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos and themed ‘Boosting Aviation Investment Through Policy,’ with various speakers from the industry analysing different topics.
Some of these speakers were Capt. Roland Iyayi, CEO, TopBrass; Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, CEO, FAAN; Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, CEO, NAMA; Mr Nick Fadugba, President, African Business Aviation Association; Barr. Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO, Air Peace amongst others.
LAAC said the purpose of the award is to recognize individuals and corporate bodies who have excelled in Aviation, Travel and Tourism and who have contributed immensely to the growth of Aviaon travels in Nigeria.
According to LAAC, “SAHCO Plc bagged the award because the company has been able to stand out from other Ground Handling Companies within the region through its consistent innovations which enhance safe, speedy and efficient Ground Handling Operations for its numerous clients.
“Over the years the company has evolved by making use of its personnel to fabricate some equipment to reduce the company’s cost of operations.”
Furthermore in 2018, the company’s team of engineers built a Ground Support Equipment from scratch at the SAHCO’s Engineering and Maintenance workshop to fuel aviation ground support equipment. The fuel bowser is the first in the history of aviation of Ground Handling in Nigeria to be created from locally sourced materials.
The idea to create the equipment was conceived by the engineering team to align with the Nigerian maxim of Use Nigerian Buy Nigeria. The production of the equipment is aimed at leading to higher efficiency of safe and fast service delivery which is what SAHCO stands for.
The company has also built a toilet bowser and baggage carts from locally sourced materials too.
SAHCO which was officially listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on April 23, 2019, is the first company under the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatization programme to successfully finalize an Initial Public Offering, listing 1.35 billion shares worth N6.29 billion on the exchange at N4.65 per shares.
