The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has been honoured as the ‘Minister of the Decade’ by the Daily Times of Nigeria for his leadership and contributions to the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Keyamo received the recognition at the centenary celebration of the Daily Times held on Thursday in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Tunde Moshood, said that the award, presented under the Times Heroes Award with the theme: ‘Honouring the Past and Shaping the Future,’ recognised individuals adjudged to have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development and whose leadership is helping to shape the country’s future.

The plaque was presented to Keyamo by the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe.

Receiving the award, Keyamo, however, played down his personal role in the sector’s achievements, dedicating the honour to the chief executives, directors and personnel of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies.

He said the progress recorded in the sector could not be attributed to him alone, stressing that the heads of aviation agencies and other professionals had played major roles in implementing the administration’s aviation reform agenda.

According to him, the award was a reflection of the collective efforts of the professionals working behind the scenes to deliver government policies and programmes in the sector.

Keyamo was accompanied to the ceremony by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adam Kambari, and the heads of aviation agencies.

Besides, President Bola Tinubu was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State were also among the dignitaries at the occasion.