By Itohan Abara-Laserian
VivaJets has called on African public and private sector leaders to move beyond policy declarations and focus on practical implementation to strengthen economic connectivity across the continent.
The Chief Executive Officer of VivaJets, Mr. Chukwuerika (Erika) Achum, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos following the Africa CEO Forum (ACF) 2026 held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Africa CEO Forum, founded in 2012, is one of the continent’s largest annual gatherings of business leaders, investors and government officials.
The 2026 edition has the theme: “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership”.
Achum said that while African leaders continued to advance ambitious integration agendas, implementation remained a major challenge.
“As a three-year supporter of the Africa CEO Forum, I have watched the energy, attendance and corporate goodwill grow with every edition.
“The commitments made by both public and private sector leaders are inspiring.
“However, the pressing question we must face today is whether these commitments are translating into real-life implementation.
“We do not just need signatures on treaties; we need cross-border policies, harmonised regulations and infrastructure assets deployed now,” she said.
He stressed that stronger regulatory frameworks and deeper public-private collaboration were critical to achieving Africa’s integration and development goals.
Also speaking, VivaJets Chief Operating Officer, Ms Tejumade Salami, said meaningful continental integration would require seamless movement of people and businesses across borders.
“At VivaJets, we view ourselves not merely as an aviation provider, but as a business connectivity catalyst.
“We are ready to support the leaders driving this continent forward, but we need enabling regulatory policies to meet us halfway,” she said.
The company’s Head of Business Transformation, Mr Kayode Adebiyi, also said Africa’s economic progress depends on removing operational barriers to connectivity.
He said VivaJets was investing in expansion, technology and international partnerships to improve mobility solutions for businesses and leaders across the continent.
“To facilitate a truly integrated Africa, our industry must also transform.
“This is why VivaJets is investing in expansion, technological innovation and international collaboration to build an efficient fleet that will meet the mobility needs of African leaders,” he said.
