Capt Bello leads Caverton Helicopters as MD, Makanjuola, COO, Abiola as ED

By Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Ibrahim Chafe Bello, a flight captain, has been appointed as new managing director and accountability officer by Caverton Offshore Support Group, to lead the next phase of the growth of the charter airline and marine logistics group. The appointment took effect from July 1, 2022.

Caverton, in a statement signed by Olabode Makanjuola, its chief executive officer, said the appointment is in line with its goal to reposition its subsidiary companies (Caverton Marine and Caverton Helicopters) to address the changes and challenges within the aviation, marine logistics and fossil energy sectors.

Bello has over 34 years of continuous aviation experience in various sectors. He started his aviation career with the Nigerian Air Force in 1987. He served with the Presidential Air Fleet, Abuja as an aircraft maintenance officer, rising to become the chief engineer of the Hawker and Gulfstream fleets, respectively.

He retired from the Nigerian Air Force in 2004 meritoriously with the rank of Squadron Leader. On retirement from the air force, he proceeded to Delta Connection Academy, Florida, USA where he obtained his Fixed Wing CPL Multi / IR in 2004.

He joined Caverton Helicopters in September 2011 as an EC155 and AW139 pilot, and also served as a line training captain on both types. In June 2012, he was appointed the base managing pilot, overseeing Port Harcourt Shell operations until his appointment as the Shell Contract Manager in August 2014. In September 2015, he was appointed the director of operations, a position which he held until his new appointment.

Bello holds the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) aircraft maintenance licence with various ratings and the ATPL multi engine licence from the FAA and NCAA. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Nigeria Defence Academy and is also an IATA certified Dangerous Goods Instructor. He has earned various medals and awards from both his military and civilian careers.

The board of the company also approved the appointment of Rotimi Makanjuola as group chief operating officer (COO) and Lolade Abiola as executive director, training, Caverton Helicopters.

As COO, Makanjuola will oversee planning and implementation of business strategies for growth across the group (marine and aviation).

Until his appointment, Makanjuola was the managing director/accountable manager of Caverton Helicopters. He holds a Bsc in economics from the University of Bradford, UK and a master’s degree in auditing and management from City Business School, London, UK.

Abiola, the new executive director of training, holds a Bsc in computer science from King’s College London, UK and an Msc in air transport management, from Cranfield University’s School of Aeronautical Engineering.

Until her appointment, Abiola was the chief operating officer for the Group, and also served as the executive director, strategy and safety innovation for Caverton Helicopters.

She also had a stint in the office of the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the technical advisor to the vice president, on solar and rural access. She is fluent in Spanish and Arabic.