Allen Onyema, a Nigerian attorney transitioned into business, is the initiator and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Nigeria’s premier airline. Fueled by a commitment to employment creation and national progress, Onyema has emerged as a significant personality in African aviation.
Early Years and Education
In 1964, Onyema was born in Mbosi, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, and he was raised in Benin and Warri. He is the first of nine offspring from Michael and Helen Onyema. His mother passed away in 1991 from kidney complications, while his father passed on in 2019.
Onyema attended St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Azia, before proceeding to the University of Ibadan, where he earned a law degree in 1987. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.
Professional Path
Onyema initiated his legal profession in Lagos under the guidance of Chief Vincent Amobi Nwizugbo. Nevertheless, he quickly moved into real estate and import-export businesses. By 1991, he had built a prosperous business portfolio and started engaging in charitable endeavors. Realizing that providing employment would have a greater effect than merely distributing aid, he was inspired by his father to pursue ventures that create jobs.
Establishing Air Peace
Driven to combat unemployment, Onyema founded Air Peace in 2013. Under the mentorship of aviation specialist Engineer Gbolahan Abatan, he acquired knowledge of the aviation sector. His first aircraft, a Dornier 328 jet, was purchased in Monaco. This acquisition marked a significant emotional achievement, symbolizing the distance he had traveled.
Despite facing initial hurdles, such as a postponed Air Operator’s Certificate in 2014, Air Peace persisted with the assistance of Fidelity Bank. Currently, the airline operates more than 38 aircraft, including Boeing 737s, servicing both local and international destinations.
Family and Personal Life
Allen Onyema is wedded to Alice Ojochide Onyema, the Vice Chairperson of Air Peace. They connected in Abuja and tied the knot in 1993. The pair shares four children: Nnenna, Chinonso, Obinna, and Ugochukwu. His daughter, Nnenna, is an attorney and a management trainee at Air Peace, having studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Onyema has named numerous aircraft after members of his family and takes great delight in observing his planes ascend and descend, viewing it as evidence of his progression from modest origins.
Net Worth
Estimates suggest that Allen Onyema’s wealth hovers around $3 billion. His journey serves as a symbol of hope and motivation, illustrating that passion, resolve, and integrity can result in significant transformation.
