Arik Air Partners with Hospitals for Humanity in Saving Little Hearts

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline, is collaborating with Hospitals for Humanity in a remarkable initiative aimed at providing about 150 Nigerian children with free open heart surgeries annually.

L-R: Vice President HR, Arik Air, Mrs Ijeoma Ike-Okereke; Isioma Success-Olugbenga, Senior Development Strategist, Hospital for Humanity; Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, COO Arik Air; Dr. Segun Ajayi, CEO/Founder Hospital for Humanity; Mrs Efe Farinre, General Advisory Board, Hospital for Humanity; and Adebanji Ola, Head of Corporate Communcations, Arik Air, at the Open House ceremony organised by Hospital for Humanity.

As part of the collaboration, Arik Air is providing flight support to Hospitals for Humanity’s medical missions to Nigeria. These missions bring together volunteer paediatric cardiac surgeons and healthcare professionals from around the globe who perform complex heart surgeries at no cost to the families involved.

Arik Air’s support is invaluable in helping Hospitals for Humanity achieve ease of logistics for children and their parents who reside in destinations far from the surgery location including health care volunteers.

Through this partnership, Arik Air is reaffirming its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by helping bridge this critical healthcare gap.

Arik Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu commented: “We are honoured to stand alongside Hospitals for Humanity in their mission to give hope and a second chance at life to children with congenital heart defects.

This initiative aligns with Arik Air’s dedication to not only connecting people through air travel but also investing in the wellbeing of our communities”.

The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Hospitals for Humanity, Dr. Segun Ajayi said: “Over the years, Hospitals for Humanity has performed numerous successful surgeries and impacted countless lives.

However, the demand remains high, and with continued support from organisations like Arik Air, even more children can receive the critical care they need”.

Congenital heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in children worldwide, especially in developing nations where access to specialized surgical care is limited.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Air Peace Completes Phase One of 2025 Hajj Operations, Airlifting Over 5,000 Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has successfully concluded the first phase of its 2025 Hajj operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its position as a key player in Nigeria’s religious pilgrimage logistics.

The Phase 1 airlift was concluded on May 24, 2025, with a total of 16 flights conducted and over 5,000 pilgrims airlifted. The operations began on May 9, 2025, with the airline operating the National Inaugural Hajj Flight from Owerri Airport, Imo State—an event graced by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Air Peace operated Hajj flights for 15 Nigerian states and the Armed Forces, using strategically located airports to ensure smooth operations and accessibility for pilgrims. Below is a breakdown of states and their respective departure airports:

Kogi & Benue – Abuja Airport

Borno – Maiduguri Airport

Taraba – Yola Airport

Ekiti & Ondo – Ilorin Airport

Edo & Nigerian Armed Forces – Lagos Airport

Imo – Owerri Airport

Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu & Rivers – Port Harcourt Airport

This milestone underscores Air Peace’s unwavering commitment to supporting national religious initiatives and providing world-class services to pilgrims on such spiritually significant journeys. Notably, the airline deployed one of its wide-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft from its fleet to support this critical national assignment.

Speaking on the completion of Phase One, Air Peace’s Director of Flight Operations, Captain Augustin Kamano, expressed satisfaction with the seamless coordination and thanked all stakeholders for their cooperation.

He noted, “This first phase was a demonstration of our operational strength and dedication to national service.

We are proud of our team’s performance and grateful for the support from all relevant authorities.” He added that Phase Two of the 2025 Hajj airlift is scheduled to commence on June 13, 2025, and conclude by July 2, 2025, “by the grace of God.”

Also commenting, Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, extended deep appreciation to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), aviation and security agencies, and especially the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his unwavering support.

“We remain committed to excellence and national service.

Our successful Hajj operations are a result of collaboration, professionalism, and the confidence placed in us by the Nigerian government and people,” she stated.

As preparations for Phase Two commence, Air Peace remains resolute in upholding safety, efficiency, and comfort for all pilgrims on this sacred journey. The airline’s steady rise since its debut in 2014 has been defined by groundbreaking achievements—operating the largest fleet in Nigeria, launching multiple regional and intercontinental routes including Jeddah, Johannesburg, and London, and consistently championing national interests. Its active participation in the Hajj airlift since 2019 further highlights its role as a dependable partner in both national and spiritual endeavours.

Air Peace Operates Free Rescue Flight, Evacuates 78 Nigerian Women Trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Continuing its legacy of nation-first humanitarianism, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace Limited, on May 10, 2025, deployed a free-of-charge rescue flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria, to Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to evacuate 78 Nigerian women who were victims of human trafficking.

The rescue operation, a bold humanitarian intervention, was executed using the airline’s luxurious wide-body Boeing 737 aircraft with registration mark 5N-BQV. The flight, which departed Lagos at 14:14hrs, arrived with the rescued citizens later that evening, marking yet another milestone in the airline’s long-standing commitment to the Nigerian people.

The operation was spearheaded by the airline’s Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, renowned for his patriotic altruism and unwavering dedication to national causes. Addressing members of the press at the Lagos airport, Dr. Onyema expressed deep concern for the condition of the rescued women and reaffirmed his personal and corporate commitment to restoring their dignity:

That is where I treat myself. So I believe, like I said, I don’t look down on anybody. They also deserve the best. That is why we enrolled all of them in Duchess Hospital. We got the names of 150 at first. All 150, whenever they come in. Today we have about 78; they are going to Duchess Hospital in the morning because they had to close tonight. But tomorrow morning, all of them will be there. If you want to see them, you will see them. They will test them. Whatever you have, Air Peace will bear the brunt of the treatment—not just tests—so that we can release them into society,” he said.

“Most importantly, we want to make them understand their humanity. They were made to feel subhuman by the treatment they endured in Côte d’Ivoire. We want them to feel valued again. Inside the aircraft, they were all very happy. They felt wanted by their nation. Now, when they go to a very seven-star hospital tomorrow morning, they will say, ‘Wow, this is me in this kind of place.’ These are the kinds of things we need to instill in the citizenry.”

Dr. Onyema also extended appreciation to Nigerian activist VeryDarkMan for bringing the victims’ plight to light, and called on citizens to be vigilant and supportive in combating human trafficking.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Lami Adamu Bello, also addressed journalists during the reception of the rescued women. She praised the collaboration that made the operation possible and emphasized Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to eradicating trafficking:

“It is with a deep sense of pride, gratitude and responsibility that I welcome you all here today. This is a momentous occasion—a day that marks not only the safe return of our beloved daughters, but also a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking.”

“To the young women who have just returned, we say, welcome home. You were taken far from the safety and dignity you deserve, but today you are back on Nigerian soil and you are not alone. You are home, and this country stands with you.”

I must also sincerely appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for its constant support, and particularly Air Peace for its generous and patriotic assistance. Your partnership is a shining example of how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to national efforts.”

“Let today serve as a reminder to the perpetrators of this heinous trade that Nigeria will never relent. Some of them have already been apprehended and will face the full force of the law.”

The successful mission was further made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Office of the Chargée d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, led by Mr. Paul Obi, and the President of the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu, who jointly facilitated the documentation process and logistical support.

Chief Onwuchelu lauded Dr. Onyema and Air Peace for their “exceptional compassion and bold intervention,” describing the airline’s gesture as “a reminder of what it truly means to be Nigerian—never abandoning our own.”

Mr. Paul Obi of the Nigerian Embassy echoed the sentiment, highlighting the trauma the victims endured in search of better lives:> “Many of these young women were deceived with promises of jobs and a better life. What they found was exploitation. Air Peace’s intervention has not only brought them home—it has restored their hope and humanity. We sincerely thank Dr. Onyema for showing, once again, what leadership and patriotism look like.”

This latest humanitarian effort adds to a growing list of interventions by Dr. Allen Onyema and Air Peace. In 2019, the airline airlifted 503 Nigerians free of charge from South Africa amidst xenophobic attacks. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Air Peace conducted multiple repatriation flights. In 2022, the airline flew Nigerian evacuees out of war-torn Ukraine. In May 2023, Dr. Onyema again deployed Air Peace aircraft to evacuate 277 stranded Nigerians from Sudan.

As the rescued women prepare to begin a new chapter, supported by medical care and reintegration efforts, one truth stands out: Air Peace is more than just an airline—it is a bridge of hope for Nigerians in crisis, and a national symbol of empathy, courage and service.