The aviation sector is beaming with smiles right now, as the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, has been recognised as the 2014 Best Emerging Airport in the African region. The award was given to the airport at the fourth Annual Emerging Airports Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, said the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, received the award on behalf of the Lagos airport.

According to Dati, the organisers of the conference cited the revolutionary turnaround of the airports in Nigeria as one of the reasons for the award, adding that it also applauded the Aerotropolis and the perishable cargo projects as clear indicators of an emerging giant.

He emphasised that the award ceremony also featured conferences and an exhibition, which attracted over 15 airport directors, Civil Aviation Authorities, CAAs and airport companies from the emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Middle East.

Dati informed that Dunoma presented a paper at the conference where he showcased the investment potentials and business opportunities in the Nigerian aviation industry.

Others, who attended the event, according to him, included Mozambique Airports, Tanzania Airports Company, Ghana Airports Company, Kilimanjaro Airports Company (as delegate), Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Bahrain Airports Company, GMR Airports and GVK Airports from India.

Others were Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Dube Ports – South Africa, Jordan Airports Company (delegate), Egyptian Airports Company (delegate), ADPI – the airport design company, Hill International, TAV Airports Holdings (Turkey) and over 45 exhibitors representing airport suppliers, investors, contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others involved in ground handling, airport operations, airport ATC / ATM, airport maintenance and ancillary services providers.