The largest airline in West Africa and Nigeria, Air Peace, is pleased to announce that Senior First Officer Chibuzo Mbanefo has been promoted to Captain on its Boeing 777 fleet.
Captain Mbanefo has continuously shown remarkable leadership, ability, and dedication to maintaining Air Peace’s exacting operational standards. He has now formally assumed the prestigious post of Captain after completing extensive training and fulfilling all legal criteria, further solidifying Air Peace’s tradition of producing top-tier aviation experts.
Capt. Gerald Udaya praised SFO Mbanefo’s outstanding attributes when he introduced him to Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO of Air Peace Limited, and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer. In particular, he recognised SFO Mbanefo’s outstanding achievement in the demanding command upgrading training program and mentioned that he had accumulated more than 4,800 flying hours on the right-hand side of the B777. He was quite proud of Mbanefo’s promotion to the left seat as Captain, which he said demonstrated his expertise, skill, and ability.
The ceremonial epaulette change, which represented Mbanefo’s new position as Captain and was bestowed by the company’s CEO and Mrs. Olajide, marked the ceremony’s turning point. As he considered Mbanefo’s adventure, Capt. Iwo-Brown advised him to stay disciplined, follow aviation regulations to the letter, and never sacrifice safety—all of which are essential for long-term success in the field.
Captain Mbanefo thanked the Chairman, his wife, his family, and the flight operations management for their constant support in an emotional address. He reminisced about his early aviation career before becoming a flight dispatcher with Air Peace. Capt. He stated that he had rigorous training on the Boeing 737 after moving from Cadet to First Officer with the Chairman’s approval. His love for the B777 shaped his career path, even though he might have advanced to Captain on the B737; this decision was honoured at this elevation ceremony.
The company’s CEO thanked the recently promoted Captain and reiterated Air Peace’s dedication to empowering Nigerian pilots in his remarks: “At Air Peace, we believe in recognizing and rewarding excellence. Captain Mbanefo has exhibited outstanding professionalism and dedication, and we are incredibly proud to see him take this next step in his career. This promotion aligns with our mission to build local capacity and ensure our flight operations remain world-class.”
BrandSpur Nigeria news report that Dr Onyema urged Capt. Mbanefo takes seriously his new duty while stressing the value of humility, lifelong learning, and putting safety first. He pointedly stated: “It is only your character that determines your altitude in life.”
Continuing, he said he was certain the new Captain could lead and maintain Air Peace’s dedication to safety and quality.
In addition to the airline’s Flight Operations Management team, Captain Mbanefo’s wife, family members, and well-wishers, the event was held in Air Peace’s corporate head office and was attended by Chairman/CEO Dr Allen Onyema and Chief Operating Officer Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide. As Air Peace keeps growing its fleet and route network—it recently added additional destinations and strengthened its long-haul capabilities with its Boeing 777 aircraft—this campaign is following the airline’s mission to empower Nigerian aviators while offering safe, top-notch air travel.
