...'cont'd

:: OKADA AIRLINE

Former Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida congratulated Sir Gabriel Igbinedion on the acquisition of Okada's first B747 AIRCRAFT

Former Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida with Chief Tom Ikimi and Sir Gabriel Igbinedion disembarking from Okada Air's B747

By 1987 four more BAC I­II had been acquired including two executive jets, to cater for charter service.

As at 1988, the Okada Airline fleet comprised nine BAC 1-11 Passenger/Cargo aircraft; two BAC 1-11 Executive configuration aircraft; one Dornier 228 Passenger aircraft; one Shorts 330 Passenger aircraft; and two HS125 Executive aircraft, bringing the total to 17 aircraft.

At an interview then, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Okada Group of Companies, Chief G. O. Igbinedion revealed the reasons for patronising the BAC 1-11 aircraft. He expressed that the BAC 1-11 and the Boeing 707 series of aircraft had a track record of reliability and durability and that these qualities combine with their uniquely elegant finish influenced his decision to put them on schedule as some of the best aircraft in the world. These aircraft were the workhorse of British Caledonian and British Airways among others. Thus, in the choice of the aircraft for the Okada Fleet Chief Igbinedion exhibited his usual characteristic ruggedness mixed with realism, wrapped up in finesse.

By the close of 1988, Okada Airline which at inception five years earlier, had load factors of 34%, had attained an increase in its load factors of 80-100% thus acquiring an optimum utilisation level of passenger and cargo capacity. The Boeing 707 international cargo service had increased its service range to include Europe, Asia, North and East Africa; utilising to the full its 40 ton unit capacity.

On 7th May 1992, Chief Igbinedion made history in the aviation industry when he became the first blackman in the world to purchase a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. Both the then President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and Vice President Augustus Aikhomu in recognition of this great achievement by a Nigerian citizen jointly gave the commissioning ceremony the presidential seal. It must be emphasised that the success of Okada Air is partly attributable to the support given to the Airline over the years by the Federal Government. At the commissioning ceremony, Vice President Augustus Aikhomu re-echoed the administration's commitment to supporting any individuals or corporations who would make similar contributions to the nation in any field of endeavours.

The Airline staff strength reached the 1,000 mark from its level of 110 at inception in 1983. One notable directional growth was in the area of staff training. Characteristic of his belief that "man is the prime mover of any given industry and no investment is too much in expanding a man's horizon in his chosen career", the Okada Managing Director embarked on intensive expanded training programme of the Airline's indigenous staff at inception in 1983. The idea according to Chief Igbinedion is:

to inculcate in the staff an attitude geared towards safety and efficiency. Furthermore, a new approach to dealing with customers' requests and complaints is demanded of the staff, and it is strict company policy that passengers are not taken for granted - these being necessary ingredients for a new airline to carve a niche for itself and to contribute to improving the image of the industry.

The issue of safety in the air was of paramount concern to the Okada Airline. The solution was found in a more thorough and expert training of the flight deck crew and to this direction the Airline turned its attention. From March 1984, Okada Airline began to participate in pilot training and courses organised on a regular basis in various parts of the world. According to the Airline Chairman and Managing Director:

The schools of Aer Lingus in Ireland and Varig Airlines in Brazil and Pittsburg, USA are regular centres for our pilots' training. The ground and flight engineers, most of whom have undergone training for various ratings from PPL to ATPL levels, also undergo regular refresher courses in maintenance and overhaul.

Recently, Dave Smith of Rolls Royce, UK..., the world's leading manufacturer of aircraft engines conducted a training course for aviation engineers at the Okada Wonderland under the auspices of Okada Air. ...READ ON

:: OKADA AIRLINE

:: IGBINEDION EDUCATION CENTRE

:: IGBINEDION HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTRE

CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON