The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kenyan Airways

  • Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE) on Tuesday grounded the operations of Kenyan Airways at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos  following prolonged disagreement between the union and the airline management over failure to implement welfare programme for workers.

    Placard carrying members of the Union in the early hours stormed the counters of the airline at the terminal of the Lagos Airport to prevent Kenyan Airways from carrying out any operations.

    The union said it embarked on the action due to failure on the part of the airline to resolve lingering issues.

    As evidence its seriousness, members of the union hoisted Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) flag at the check in counters of Kenyan Airways to shut down its operations.

    Last week, NUATE gave the airline an ultimatum to comply with its demands.

    The union made this known in an online statement signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka OluAbioye

    In a statement titled, “Notice Of Industrial Action Against The Management of Kenya Airways, Nigeria” the union stated that it had  waited patiently over the months for Kenya Airways, Nairobi management  to respond positively to the fundamental welfare demands of its Nigerian employees and implement the collective bargaining agreement with the union but that the airline has refused to respond.

    Abioye added that as a result of the refusal of Kenya Airways to address the issues raised, “Notice is hereby given by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) to all intending passengers on KQ that with effect from 1200midnight of Tuesday 5th. December 2017, all operations of Kenya Airways in Nigeria shall be grounded.”

    “We hereby appeal to all intending passengers and other airport users and partners to bear with the workers and its Union as they embark on this industrial action for the safety and security of all parties, as you all know that a “disgruntled worker is an accident waiting to happen”, which we intend to prevent,” The union stated.

    The union stated that the industrial action would be indefinite until the management of the airline address the issues and do the needful.

    According to NUATE, “Nigerian worker’s patience in Kenya Airways has been exhausted and they cannot continue to suffer at the expense of certain other persons.”

    The union solicited the cooperation and support of security agencies as the union embark on the industrial action, bearing in mind that an injury to one is an injury to others, while an injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

     

  • Emirates, Kenyan Airways to review Nigeria operations

    The economic recession in Nigeria is taking a toll on the aviation sector as Emirates Airlines and Kenyan Airways have concluded plans to review their operations.

    Consequently, the two airlines will suspend flights in the Abuja – Dubai and Abuja – Nairobi route.

    A source close to Emirates confirmed yesterday that effective October 30 this year, the United Arab Emirates carrier will be suspending its four times weekly flight between Abuja and Dubai .

    The decision to suspend Abuja flights by Emirates, it was learnt, was taken after the airline reviewed its operations to ensure best utilisation of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives.

    Kenya Airline indicated that the suspension of its Abuja flights was triggered by the dwindling traffic from Abuja to Nairobi, the airline’s operational hub.

    Its CEO, Mbuvi Ngunze in a statement obtained indicated that the airline would however continue to operate its daily flight from Lagos to Nairobi.

  • Kenyan Airways flies Soyinka’s ‘Ake’ to Cannes

    THE film adaptation of Prof Wole Soyinka’s childhood memoir, Ake, published in 1981, will be screened in Cannes at the ongoing Festival International du Film Pan Africain de Cannes, which opens today.

    Also, the French translation of the film has been undertaken by Alliance Francaise in Nigeria to pave way for a wider participation by the film’s French audience in Cannes.

    Last Monday, Kenyan Airways also announced its partnership with Ake film. The partnership is aimed at helping to transport the film and its team to as many destinations in recognition of the film’s importance as a vital export item for the African continent.

    In a statement by Diran Oloyede of the airline’s corporate department, an airline of Kenyan Airways’ stature is the right carrier for a film of Ake’s calibre that needs to get to as many places on the globe.

    “We are Africa’s star carrier and even though we touch different key destinations globally, our core market is Africa. That is why it is our strategic priority to grow African business,” Oloyede said.

    The film scheduled for worldwide release in 2016 was shown to cast, crew and friends on December 3, 2015 at Muson Centre’ s Agip Hall, Lagos and was well attended by figures in entertainment, government, the diplomatic community and the corporate world.

    Ake, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s childhood memoir  achieved immediate critical and international acclaim. It has been read by millions of people across the globe.

    Set in World War 2 years, between 1937 and 1945, it covers the first eleven years of the author’s life in Ake, Abeokuta.

    Dapo Adeniyi, Executive Producer and director of the film says the screening of the film in Cannes is only the beginning. The film will soon reach its audience in Nigeria, Africa and the world. Press accreditations and festival passes are available at Novotel Cannes Montfleurys.

  • Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Call for participation in U.S TechWomen programme

    Alade Abiodun

    TechWomen, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has invited applications from emerging women leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.)

    Participants will be drawn from the Middle East and Africa together with their counterparts in the United States for the professional mentorship and exchange program in the Fall of this year.

    Applicants must be women who are permanent residents of Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

    Deadline for interested participants in the programme scheduled for Fall of 2013 is February 22.

    The program will identify approximately 80 women who are emerging leaders and entrepreneurs working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) from the Middle East & Africa for a five-week program  including mentorships and professional exchanges at leading companies in Silicon Valley, California, concluding with workshops, networking events and meetings in Washington, D.C.

    During the five-week program, participants engage in project-based mentorships at leading companies in Silicon Valley, participate in workshops and networking events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and travel to Washington, D.C. for targeted meetings and special events to conclude the program.

    Each Emerging Leader will be paired with a Professional Mentor who works closely with the participant to design and carry out a project at the host company. The Professional Mentor offers guidance and support throughout the mentorship. Emerging Leaders also participate in professional enrichment activities that include leadership and entrepreneurship workshops, technology seminars and networking events.

    Each TechWomen Emerging Leader will also be paired with a Cultural Mentor who facilitates activities to deepen mutual understanding and help the participant acclimate to the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley culture. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour national landmarks while in Washington, D.C.

    Past activities have included sightseeing, art exhibits, sporting events, and visits to local universities.

    Participants are women who are engaged or rising in professional careers that require significant expertise and knowledge of STEM fields and/or innovative application of these skills, and who already are —or show promise of being— role models for women and girls.

    Preference will be given to applicants Who have demonstrated themselves as emerging leaders in STEM fields;  have limited or no prior experience in the United States; have a record of voluntary or public service in their communities; have demonstrated entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation.

    While participating in the program, applicants are not permitted to apply for immigrant visa to the United States, or participated in a visa lottery in the past five years and not hold U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. legal permanent resident.

    TechWomen, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs was launched by the outgoing Secretary of State of the United States of America, Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, with the vision of “smart power diplomacy” embracing the full range of diplomatic tools, including technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and to empower women and girls worldwide.

    Interested participants should visit www.techwomen.org/how-to-apply/ or send e-mail to techwomen@iie.org.

     

  • She wants to know why

    I came back from a three-day visit to Kenya last Monday with a copy of the in-flight magazine of Kenyan Airways- Msafiri (The Traveler) which I gave my children to read.

    They asked some questions about Kenya before I travelled which I didn’t have enough time to answer them. I was happy to get them the magazine which had more than enough information they needed to know about the East African country.

    What I didn’t bargain for was that the magazine will trigger a very pertinent question about one of the critical areas Nigeria has failed to live up to the image of being the giant of Africa.

    I had forgotten about the magazine when on Wednesday, Yemisi, my very inquisitive daughter who is fond of asking tough questions asked me, “Daddy, is Kenyan Airways owned by the Kenyan government?”. I replied Yes, not realizing what point she wanted to make.

    “Do we have Nigeria Airways? she followed up. She obviously knew we didn’t have one and her next question when I answered No was very intriguing.

    “So why do we have a Minister of Aviation?” she asked. I didn’t expect the question and had to gather my thoughts before I managed to explain to her that the job of the Aviation Minister was not that of running the country’s airline but the wider issues of policies and regulations.

    From the look on her face she was not impressed by my response. She fired back “If Kenya can have an airline, why can’t we have one”.

    I did not have an answer for her this time. I told her we used to have a national carrier but like many other legacies of the country, it now belongs to the history books.

    Does anybody out there have an answer for Yemisi. She wants to know why we don’t have Nigeria Airways like Kenya whose population is not up to a third of ours.

    She and her generation deserve an answer from the past and present officials responsible for running the aviation sector.

    I can imagine what the reactions of the youths of today will be when they fully realise how we have mortgaged their future due to years of mismanagement of the resources God has blessed us with. We like to brag about our position in the comity of nations internationally and in the continent, but the truth is that we don’t have much to show in terms of basic facilities which can enhance the standard of living of the average citizens.

    I spent three days in Nairobi and there was no power failure for a second. I didn’t see a generator anywhere and I didn’t have to ask them if they use it like we all do in Nigeria. We have become so used to constant light out that in recent weeks that power has been fairly regular many have been wondering how long the improvement can be sustained.

    I enjoy flying Kenya Airways each time I do and really wish we have a national carrier we could be proud of. I dream of a Nigeria that can set pace for other African countries in virtually every area of endeavour considering our large population and resources.

    If we don’t want to continue to be the laughing stock of the continent, we must get our acts right and be able to say like Kenyans in Swahili language, Hakuna Matata (No problem).