The chairman of one of Nigeria’s largest carrier Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has been named as Triangle Magazine Entrepreneur of the year.
According to the publisher of the magazine, Otunba Femi Salako, the award is in recognition of Onyema’s nationalistic orientation in thoughts and actions.
He described him as an advocate of peace and nonviolence “who has has done enough to touch many lives in Nigeria and has also provided employment for hundreds of country men and women. “
He also said Onyema is keenly committed to youth empowerment and development.
He added that Onyema has made patriotic sacrifices and repositioned the Nigerian aviation industry to deserve the award.
According to him: “The Anambra born real estate investor and conflict resolution expert has against all odds succeeded in putting the Nigerian aviation sector on global map. He is clearly one of the impactful investors in Nigeria, and this fact had been attested to by the Nigeria Entrepreneurship Summit.
“Air Peace, which was registered by Allen Onyema with Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), commenced commercial operations in 2014. Air Peace has in less than 10 years become the airline of choice for Nigerians and foreigners alike.The efficiently run Air Peace, under the management of Allen Onyema has recorded steady and astronomical growth in less than a decade of operations.
“The airlines now boasts of 20 domestic routes and eight regional and seven international destinations. The International routes are Guangzhou, Dubai, Johannesburg, Jeddah, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Banjul, Accra, Dakar and London. “
He noted that the entrance of of Air Peace into the London route has brought unimaginable price relief to Nigerian air travelers.
“Entry of Air Peace into the London route has lately sparked price wars between it and some foreign airlines.
“The price war has effectively led to significant reduction in air tickets for Lagos-London and Abuja-London routes Deserved credit must be given to patriotic and pan Nigerian spirit of Allen Onyema whose dogged entry in total the London route has halted the exorbitant price hitherto charged Nigerian air travelers by foreign airlines.
“Air Peace now operates a mixed fleet of 13 Boeing 737s, 1 Dornier 328-300 Jet, 3 Boeing 777s, 8 Embraer 145s, 5 Embraer 195-E2s, and 10 Airbus 320s.
Steady growth and effective management of Air Peace has neccesitated the need for the government of Antigua and Barbuda to partner with the Nigerian indigenous airline to help revive the Caribbean national carrier LIAT. The airline is however, expected to operate under a new name. In line with the agreement signed by both parties, it is therefore expected of Air Peace to acquire majority stake in LIAT, ” he said.
He added that aside businesses, empowerment and advocacy for peace, Allen Onyema has equally etched his name in Nigeria history with his philanthropic commitments.
