A veteran of startup airlines and an expert in route development and African market development. Mr. Chikelu deliberately focused on the African markets and has over thirty-five (35) years’ experience in marketing and business development in the whole of the African aviation landscape. He was very instrumental in the extensive regional and international expansion of Bellview Airlines, now called First Nation. He was also the project manager for regional expansion for Sosoliso Airlines, Aero Contractors, and Arik Air, where he rose to the rank of Vice President Commercial for the African Market. Mr. Chikelu collaborated with Hassan Zakari of route development initiatives, which saw most of the new routes he initiated reaching 80 percent load factors.