Mrs. Olayinka T. Babaoye-Iriobe
Olayinka is an experienced and innovative Aviation Professional with an MBA and a proven track record of success for driving businesses in the Hospitality, Financial Services and the Aviation industry.
Olayinka graduated best in her class from Bendel State University, (now Ambrose Ali University) Ekpoma, Nigeria in 1986 where she obtained a Second-Class Upper Division in Biochemistry. After her youth service, she undertook a Master’s degree in Biochemistry at University of Ibadan, Nigeria before proceeding to Imperial College London, United Kingdom for another Masters programme this time in Biotechnology where she graduated as Second Best in her faculty. Following her second Masters at Imperial College in 1992, Olayinka worked in various organisations in the United Kingdom in the hospitality and financial services industry as Account Manager, Management Accountant, Finance Manager, and Corporate Business Analyst amongst others.
Whilst working in the hospitality and financial service industry, she became a Certified Chartered Accountant passing all her ACCA accountancy exams at the first attempt. Due to her eagerness for knowledge, Olayinka then undertook an Executive MBA at Imperial College Business School, London (formerly Tanaka Business School) where she graduated with a Distinction in 2009.
Olayinka is a Fellow member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (FCA) as well as member of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. She has facilitated a number of strategic changes to improve the financial stability and income potential for companies where she worked in the UK. She had also provided high-level business analysis, strategy, planning and internal controls which assisted in building consistent and improved business performance across these organisations.
She joined the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in 2013 on her return to Nigeria where she was seconded to work in Abuja as a Special Assistant to one of the former Honorable Minister of Aviation and two (2) Senior Special Assistants to the President on Aviation and Institution Reforms before returning to the NCAA in 2015. As Special Assistant she worked in multiple projects, programmes and committees including but not limited to:
· Member/Secretary: Ministerial Committee on the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) development (Jan - May 2013).
· Member/Secretary: Ministerial Committee on the review of Nigerian Civil Aviation Act as well as the Acts for all Six Parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Aviation – 2013.
· Superintended the Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) – 2013.
· Member: Ministerial Committee on National Carrier – 2013.
· Member: Inter-Ministerial Technical Sub-Committee on the Fresh Produce Transformation Initiative Programmes – 2013.
· Member/Secretary: Ministerial Committee on Nigerian Aviation Industry Aircraft Accident Reports Status (NAIAARS) – November 2014
· Member/Secretary: Ministerial Committee on Foreign Registered Privately-Owned Aircraft –
February 2015
· Member of Ministerial Team on Nigeria readiness for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Programme – April 2015
On returning to the NCAA after her stint as Special Assistant, Olayinka worked as Deputy General Manager, Acting General Manager, before being promoted to General Manager in the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation in 2019. Her versatility knew no bound and she has always demonstrated excellence in all her undertakings scoring Distinctions in all aviation related trainings and examinations. She continues to successfully drive processes in all the committees where she is a member including being:
· Focal Point of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) responsible for the successful coordination of Twenty Fourth (24th) Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) Day Anniversary Week in Abuja, Nigeria in November, 2023
· Focal Point of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) responsible for the successful coordination of Consultative meeting on the Development & Deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Low Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) and other Cleaner Fuels in Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria in October, 2023.
· Focal Point of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) responsible for the successful coordination of the 7th Aviation African Summit & Exhibition Event in Abuja, Nigeria in September, 2023.
· Focal Point of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) responsible for the successful coordination of the Single African Air Transport Market Pilot Implementation Project (SAATM- PIP) Cluster 1 Coalition Roadshow in Abuja, Nigeria in April, 2023.
· Focal Point of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) responsible for the successful coordination of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Negotiation (ICAN) Event in Abuja, Nigeria in December, 2022.
· Member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the successful 7th Aviation Week for the Africa and Indian-Ocean Region (AFI Week) Event in Abuja, Nigeria in May, 2022.
· Focal Point responsible for the successful coordination of the International Partners for Aviation Development, Innovation and Sustainability (iPADIS) Event in March 2021.
· Nigerian Air Transport Expert (May 2021) and member of AFCAC Standing Committee in September, 2021.
· Member of Nigeria Experts (Air Transport Experts) that reviewed the African Civil Aviation Policy (AFCAP) in August, 2020.
· Member of the Committee on Bailout Support for Aviation Sector Intervention Funds (November, 2020).
· Member of the Flight Standards Group (FSG) Committee involved in the development and the implementation of the NCAA Advisory Circular on Post Covid-19 Lockdown Airline Industry Restart Plan as well as other Advisory Circulars that would facilitate an organized, safe, secure and efficient normalization of the industry after the Covid-19 lockdown (April, 2020).
· Member of the ICAO Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP), 2018 till date.
Olayinka was appointed Director, Air Transport Regulation (DATR) in December, 2023. She is happily married with children.
