Two weeks back, former Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) Plc, Dr Oluropo Owolabi, was at the 2019 City People Awards of Excellence in Lekki. Dr Oluropo has worked in the aviation sector for many years and that’s where he cut his teeth. Presently he is one of the Non-Member of Directors of SAHCO; a sector he had worked for many decades. The company has evolved from Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) to a public limited company and is now Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO).
He is also the president of Association of Friends, UP ASSO. He told City People his many year experiences in the aviation and what he currently does since he left as the MD of SAHCOL. He spoke to City People’s ISAAC ABIMBADE, about his time in the aviation and many other issues.
Can we just know what you are currently doing?
I thought the last 2 or 3 months of City People Magazine edition told everything about me! I’m the President of UP ASSO. I’m still in the aviation industry. I’m still one of the non-members of Directors of SAHCOL but it’s now SAHCO. It was SAHCOL before I left but by them going into the stock exchange, they are now called SAHCO, which is doing well.
Tell us, what’s your activities like in the aviation sector?
It’s a lot! I thank God almighty, a young officer that came up from Nigeria Airways, sent to operate as a district manager in Rome at my age. I was the youngest officer that was first posted out to Rome in 1981. After doing well there, I was invited back to Nigeria as the District Manager International Services. We were the ones that opened the International airport. Leaving there, I moved to London for about a year and a half, to restructure London because of our activities then. I came back home. After some time I was posted to New York (USA), as General Manager for America and Canada. During the torment of Abacha, I was there. We finally came back home to come and nurture SAHCO, which was SAHCOL then, as part of handling company of Nigeria Airways, then it was re-established, and then the federal government decided to divide what is operational from travelling. So, it was set up by about 3 companies. Out of the 3 companies, only my company, SAHCOL which I was the then General Manager survived the liquidation. I left, and I came back again to come and restructure SAHCOL. And to the glory of God, after 4 years, with dynamic help of the buyer from Dr Taiwo Afolabi, who was able not to behave like other Nigerians; he was ready to put more effort to what he bought. So we were able to put up the best cargo warehouse in West Africa as at today.
How can you compare the aviation sector then to what we have now?
We thank God that SAHCO has gone to Stock Exchange for the public to buy shares; we are waxing stronger and looking back to aviation industry that I believe it needs a lot of surgical operation within the system. I believe that it’s nice to beautify a house but if you don’t look at the infrastructural aspect of the house, it’s useless. What some of our airports in the country need; it’s not the beautification; it’s the structural aspect of it that needs to be upgraded. The likes of the arrival hall, the baggage hall, the departure hall, the air conditioning, the tarmacs and so on. These are some of the things that should be taken care of. I have travelled to many different airports, even Ghana is enough for us to take a cue from; because people now are more of IT; they are more into innovative things. So we should be ready to change with the system, and the earlier we do that in aviation, the better for us.
Are you saying Government didn’t do enough with the new infrastructure at the MMA.?
You have good wine, you opted to put in the old wine. Yes, It’s possible but those old ones must be restructured to be able to meet the need of the new ones. Whatever I say here is with authority because I know what I’m saying. Yes, the new airport, which is being handled by the Chinese is good, but it must be restructured to fit in and conform with other top airports around the world. The likes of JFK has restructured itself. New buildings and a lot of new things have come up there. Those old buildings that are still there, they have merged them with the new ones; they have restructured it to move side by side with necessary equipment that will enable them to make life easier, to make travelling easier and to make even the Pilots happy.
How do you think the sector can be better run?
We have honest, hardworking people that could restructure and do a lot of things there if they are called upon. Then, Nigeria being what it is today, it’s who you know. And those who know what it takes don’t beg, you will look for them. They won’t come with their CV’s because they know their worth. That’s what is happening, but not only in aviation.
What is currently going on with UPASSO? What plans are you working on to better the association?
We have done a lot of things. We just finished our 40th anniversary which was covered by City People and we are grateful to them. Our plans are so much that it’s not only drinking; we are moving into helping the needy, services to the poor and so on.
