Over 500 aviation stakeholders from across Africa and beyond will converge on Abuja for the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to run from 19 to 25 September 2026. The week‑long event, themed “Next‑Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience,” will also host ACI Africa’s 76th Board and Committee Meetings.
According to ACI Africa Secretary‑General Ali Tounsi, more than 40 speakers will tackle challenges facing African airports and outline strategies for the industry’s future. Discussions will cover not only infrastructure and financing but also digitalisation, environmental preparedness, skilled manpower and the development of the next generation of aviation professionals.
“So, this conference is to make airports and people aware about the challenges and how we can phase off these through committees, expertise – experts can come to discuss and to help us and at the end, we will fully have a clear idea of how we will face the future of airports in Africa,” said Tounsi.
Tounsi added that Nigeria is hosting the gathering for the third time, having previously hosted it in Lagos in 2010 and 2017. He highlighted Nigeria’s role as one of Africa’s major aviation markets and an influential player in West Africa, noting that developments in the country could shape the wider regional aviation industry.
Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Vice President of ACI Africa, said extensive preparations had been made to ensure a smooth event. “We have had a significant number of individuals, over a hundred people from the Nigerian side, working very closely with ACI Africa to ensure that, one, whatever arrangements we make for this 35th annual general assembly, they give their best in terms of experience,” Kuku said.
Henry Agbebire, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, noted that delegates had already begun arriving in Abuja ahead of the main programme. “Delegates have started arriving, and we are particularly delighted to have with us early Mr. Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa, and members of his team, who have arrived ahead of the main programme to support the final preparations,” he said.
With the level of preparation and coordination described by organisers, Kuku expressed confidence that the conference would run without incident, providing a platform for African airports to demonstrate improved performance and resilience.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
