BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, is expected to lead a distinguished gathering of aviation stakeholders at the launch of a seminal book titled “100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects” on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lagos.
The author, Mr. Wole Shadare, an aviation editor with the New Telegraph newspaper, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the event will take place at the Golfview Hotel, Ikeja GRA.
According to Shadare, several high-profile figures have confirmed their attendance, including the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk; and former NCAA DG, Dr. Harold Demuren.
Also expected are Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Chairman of the Resort Group; Dr. Gabriel Olowo, former President of the Aviation Safety Round Table (ART); and former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Mr. Debo Adesina.
Describing the 25-chapter publication, Shadare said it is a “compendium of facts and figures on the aviation journey” that will serve as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive understanding of how aviation has evolved in Nigeria over the past century.
In his foreword, Dr. Harold Demuren praised the book’s depth and scholarly merit, noting: “The story of Nigeria’s aviation industry has been put in the correct perspective by the author, using his rich and varied experience and uninhibited access to relevant source materials, historical and contemporary areas of Nigeria’s aviation history.”
Demuren further stated that the book goes beyond chronicling history, as it “takes a passionate look at contemporary issues in Nigeria regarding regulation of the aviation industry and management of agencies, the contentious bilateral air services agreements Nigeria has signed with other countries, local and international aero-politics, as well as the controversial politics of a national carrier.”
Shadare highlighted that this is the first major updated work documenting the aviation industry from 1925 to 2025.
The book will be reviewed by Prof. Anthony Kila, a Jean Monnet professor of strategy and development, political economist, public intellectual, and director at the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos.
The book launch will be chaired by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), while the event will also host the maiden edition of the Aviation Metric Colloquium—an annual platform designed to bring together thought leaders and policymakers to address pressing challenges in the sector.
This year’s colloquium, themed “Issues in the Growth and Development of Aviation in Nigeria: A Critical Perspective,” aims to foster rigorous debate and chart actionable solutions to the persistent issues affecting the Nigerian aviation industry.
