The new Secretary General of the Nairobi based African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Dr Elijah Chingosho assumed office on January 1, 2011 after a brief handing over ceremony at the organisation’s Headquarters. Dr Chingosho was appointed AFRAA Secretary General during the 42nd Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Association held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 21-23, 2010.
In a brief statement after the handing over, the Director, Government, Corporate & Industry Affairs, Tewodros Tamrat, who acted as Secretary General since June 29, 2010 congratulated Dr Chingosho on his appointment and wished him well. He assured him of his personal unflinching support to ensure that AFRAA becomes a better organisation than it is now. Tamrat expressed his appreciation to the Executive Committee and 42nd Annual General Assembly (AGA) for appointing someone from within AFRAA to the high office of Secretary General for the first time in the Association’s history. He also thanked the Executive Committee for their support of his administration over the last six months and called for their continued support and good counsel to his successor.
Tamrat expressed his confidence that the new Secretary General will take “bold and pragmatic initiative in line with the clarion call for positive change at AFRAA by members and partners”, adding that, “this is the only way he can justify the confidence reposed in him and move AFRAA to the next level”.
In his initial remarks after taking office, Dr Chingosho lauded his predecessor, Tewodros Tamrat for his successful steering of the affairs of AFRAA during the last six months of transition. “Clearly, you have re-stabilised AFRAA and from now on, I can count on a united AFRAA”, Chingosho said.
Recounting the task ahead, Chingosho said with the support and cooperation of members, the executive committee, partners and the secretariat team, “a new AFRAA will be borne that is results oriented and geared towards satisfying the needs of members”. He assured the industry of “a new, transparent, vibrant and professional industry association that all will be proud of”.
Chingosho thanked the Executive Committee and the entire membership of AFRAA for the confidence reposed in him in electing him Secretary General of the Association. e assured the member airlines of his determination to “measure up to the expectations of airlines and partners by repositioning AFRAA as a vibrant and proactive trade organisation in Africa.”
Prior to his appointment as Secretary General of AFRAA, Chingosho was the Director of Safety, Technical and Training of AFRAA for the past nine years.