Funke joined IATA in June 2009 as area manager for IATA in South West Africa, overseeing all IATA’s activities in English speaking West Africa and was IATA’s ambassador in the region, advocating international standards and global initiatives to enhance and promote the interests of global aviation in the region.
She held that position until June 2013 when she was promoted to Regional Head for Member (Airline) and External Relations for Africa and the Middle East. Her new role is to advocate for the overall sustainability and growth of the industry as a whole, and to be the intermediary between airlines, the wider aviation community and the general public. She is responsible for conceptiualising and delivering an ongoing campaign regarding the transformation of Africa’s socio-economic prospects through enhanced connectivity across the continent.
Since joining IATA, she has been involved in many key industry and leadership initiatives, including being chosen as part of a core group of senior managers tasked with revising the strategic direction of the global aviation industry for the next 5 years, the re-organisation of IATA to better meet member and industry needs, participation as a national delegate during the last 4 Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to facilitate the global air transport industry position on Environmental issues, and more recently to lead the Women in Leadership initiative of IATA in Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining IATA, Funke was a member of the Industry Affairs Committee, the global committee for inter-airline co-operation, who advise the IATA Board of Governors, the Director-General and other relevant IATA governance bodies on the regulatory and aero-political aspects of commercial and industry affairs and aero-political matters affecting international air transport.
Funke has over 15 years work experience. She began her career practicing law with the Law firm of F.O. Akinrele & Co., one of the leading law firms in Nigeria, between 2000 to 2005, where she facilitated and executed several exciting transactions ranging from Corporate Finance to Oil & Gas, Telecommunications, Banking and general Corporate and Commercial Law.
She also has significant experience in Transport, Aviation and Aerospace, which includes being part of the set up team of Virgin Nigeria Airways and subsequently being the Head of Legal Services and Company Secretary from 2005 to early 2009.
She obtained her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Commercial Law from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, read Law at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, both with high honours and qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court in 1999. She recently completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Nanyang Business School, NTU, Singapore, during which she also simultaneously completed a collaborative Advanced Management Program in Aviation, Leadership and Innovation between the Nanyang Business School, Berkeley Haas School of Business, University of California and the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.
She has many interests and hobbies including travelling, creative writing, singing, dance and drama and volunteer work. She is an Associate of the worldwide Institute of Directors, a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and an accomplished public speaker.
Africa is a continent of over 1 billion people with a huge geographical spread that is largely land-locked. Given the lack of robust alternative infrastructure across the continent (road, rail, water), aviation is the most effective way to get around the continent. “Unfortunately, Africa is not well connected in terms of air services. In many cases, the only way to get to countries within Africa is to travel for days or through other continents. This lack of connectivity is making Africa lose out immensely on socio-economic benefits and growth opportunities.” says Funke.
In collaboration with some of its regional partners across Africa, IATA commissioned a study early in 2014 on how Africa’s socio-economic prospects can be transformed through enhanced connectivity. The study looks at 12 countries across Africa, and quantifies the numerous benefits that would accrue to those countries, their sub-regions and Africa as a whole, if they were to fully open their skies to connect with each other. Funke further states that “12 nations in the report are: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The study shows that full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 155,000 new jobs and numerous other socio-economic benefits in just those 12 countries.”
“Imagine what this could mean if all 54 countries in Africa opened up to each other. It would be a game changer! A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between just these 12 markets because of unnecessary restrictions on air routes. In addition, it would provide the end users – passengers and freight forwarders – more choice, lower fares, time savings, improved efficiency, better products, increased competition and sheer convenience. In other words, better value for money”
The study was launched in Johannesburg on the 18th of August 2014 and IATA’s Regional Head, Member and External Relations for Africa and Middle East, Adefunke Adeyemi, is spearheading the roll out and advocacy of the study’s results across Africa. So far, the study has been rolled out in Egypt, Kenya (at a summit held by the African Union, African Civil Aviation Commission and African Airlines Association), Djibouti (at the invitation of COMESA), Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Algeria, Nigeria and Ethiopia. There are plans to roll out in Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia in Q1 of 2015.
“Aviation already supports about 7 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The IATA report clearly demonstrates that enhanced connectvity though liberalized air services between African States will create opportunities for further significant employment, growth and economic development.” She reveals.
The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. This is not just an aviation issue as the transformative potential of aviation in Africa will serve to improve and develop all other sectors. So in addition to Aviation/Transport and Tourism sectors, Funke informs me that “the Finance, Trade, Health, Education, Agriculture, National Planning and other key sectors of African economies should be interested in the benefits and value enhanced connectivity would bring and harness it for the ultimate prosperity of Africa.” Furthermore, for Funke, “Governments, industry, business and other relevant stakeholders must work together to support aviation and Africa’s growth by fully liberalizing African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999. The Yamoussoukro Decision envisioned a fully liberalized Africa (a single African market) to promote pan-Africanism, but almost 16 years later is yet to be fully implemented across Africa. It is time to do something about this. The time for change is now!”
KEMI AJUMOBI