Aviation in Africa – Flying to Safety and Progress through Fear
October 31, 2013
Hosted by Tope Fajingbesi, CPA
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Guest Information
Episode Description
One of the barriers to the growth of Africa’s tourism industry and intra-continent trade is our inability to move people and goods within the continent with relative ease. It is much easier to travel to Europe and America from many African countries than it is to travel to other African countries. In short, Africa does not talk to Africa. Air travel, which should be the solution to this problem, is plagued by profitability and most disturbingly safety concerns. Why is it so difficult for us to get this crucial sector working? Why have we recorded so many crashes in Africa, particularly in Nigeria in recent years? Is a solution in the horizon? Tune in to Impact Africa to hear from my capable guest – Mr. Robert Brunner (Vice President of West and Central Africa’s largest Airline -Arik Air) and my very first co-host, Private Pilot and Aviation Safety Specialist – Kayode Fajingbesi. You can also join the conversation by calling 1-866-472-5788 during the show.
Impact Africa
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
Impact Africa will tell the real African story of opportunities, development and resilience through guest interviews, case studies and audience participation. The main goal of the show is to inform listeners about important events and to inspire our audience to participate in development initiatives. You will have opportunities to contribute to the show through telephone calls, emails and social media participation. Impact Africa will create a community of Africans and friends of Africa whose actions will ultimately provide solutions to the continent’s greatest challenges.
There is a lot more to Africa than aid and handouts. Very little is known about individuals and organizations working behind the scenes to empower Africans, many of whom will be featured on the show. Show guests will include Africans and friends of Africa living within the continent and in Diaspora, who through unique initiatives and efforts are changing the business landscape in the continent.
Tope Fajingbesi, CPA
I am an international Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant based in Washington, D.C. I have 15 years of accounting and financial management experience working with Big Four public accounting firms, Fortune 500 corporations, and nonprofit organizations across the USA and Africa. I also hold a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to my professional accounting career, I co-founded and serve as the Volunteer Executive Director of United for Kids Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to providing educational and healthcare opportunities to less-privileged children in Nigeria.
In addition to creating a much better world for children from low-income families through United for Kids Foundation, my other life mission is teaching personal finance concepts in clear and easy-to-understand language, because I sincerely believe that good personal finance practices lead to better business management, and stronger businesses create strong communities. I particularly enjoy working on programs that develop and celebrate my home continent, Africa. I write a personal finance column in Azizah magazine, visit Nigeria regularly and blog about personal finance at www.ourfinancialcoach.com. My book titled “What Color Is Your Money?” was released in April, 2013.
