The 9th Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition, held on 4–5 September 2025 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali, focused on bridging skies and leveraging growth in Africa’s aviation industry, exploring challenges, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
Alongside the summit, the African Section 99s hosted a Youth STEM Initiative, welcoming 50 girls from Rwanda for an introduction to the aviation industry. The morning featured an airport tour, covering departures, immigration, duty-free, and gates, followed by a visit to a RwandAir Airbus A330-200 and Akagera Aviation, where students saw Diamond Aircraft, a Robinson R44 helicopter, and an Agusta 139 helicopter.
In the afternoon, the girls attended a panel session with industry leaders, including Mark Brown, CEO of Aviation Africa and Aerospace Magazine; Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir; and Dina Dawod, Vice Governor of the African Section of the Ninety-Nines, moderated by Ivana Alvares-Marshall, Governor of the African Section. Timo Eckardt (Airbus) presented on the company’s work, and a discussion with RwandAir female pilots, including Esther Mbabazi, Rwanda’s first female pilot, inspired the students.
Day 1 of the summit saw the girls attend the opening ceremony of the Aviation Africa Conference in pilot uniforms, explore exhibition stands, and discover a wide range of aviation careers. The highlight was a group photo with His Excellency President Paul Kagame, celebrating his support for girls in aviation.
The African Section 99s extends heartfelt thanks to:
His Excellency President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Mark Brown, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, Silas Udahemuka (Director General, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority), Timo Eckardt (Airbus), Joseph (Akagera Aviation Director), Patrick Nkulikiyimfura (Managing Director, Akagera Aviation), and the RwandAir female pilots for their invaluable support in inspiring the next generation.
Together, we are opening doors for tomorrow’s aviators and nurturing Africa’s future in aviation. You can read more about this STEM initiative on our International Youth Outreach page.