By Peter Omopo
Dawodu hails aviation approval, says project will boost trade, jobs, and tourism
Chartered engineer and founder of Tite Knox Pty Limited, Engr. Olaoluwa Dawodu, has described the newly approved commercial operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport as a game-changing development that will accelerate the state’s economic transformation.
Reacting to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) recent approval for the commencement of commercial flights at the facility, Dawodu said the move would significantly enhance commerce, tourism, and job creation across Ekiti State.
In a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the Australia-based engineer commended the initiative, calling it “a laudable step that will open up the state to new economic possibilities.”
“Inter-state and eventual international access to the numerous economic potentials of a state can only be optimally explored via safe air access,” Dawodu said. “The approval will not only boost commerce and tourism but also stimulate job creation, enhance connectivity, and position Ekiti among Nigerian states with viable air transport infrastructure.”
He noted that, like airports in developed economies, the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport would play a crucial role in increasing the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), creating employment, and attracting trade and tourism.
“The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has the potential to become a critical economic gateway for the state, serving as a catalyst for agricultural exports, investment inflows, and industrial development,” he added.
Dawodu praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his “visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainable infrastructure development,” stressing that such projects were essential for long-term growth.
He further called on Ekiti indigenes at home and in the diaspora to support the government’s efforts to transform the state’s economy.
“I urge all Ekiti sons and daughters to heed the call, return home, add value, and support the governor in every way possible as the state ushers in a new era of air connectivity and economic expansion,” Dawodu said.
The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, designed to support agricultural exports and passenger travel, is expected to serve as a major logistics and commercial hub for the South-West region once operations fully commence.
