BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
A seminal new book chronicling a century of aviation development in Nigeria is set to be unveiled on May 23, 2025, at the Golfview Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Titled “100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects,” the book is the latest contribution from Mr. Wole Shadare, an international award-winning journalist and aviation editor of New Telegraph Newspapers.
Shadare, who brings decades of experience and deep insight into Nigeria’s aviation industry, described the 368-page work as “probably one of the most important books on 100 years of aviation in Nigeria.”
According to him, “The book, a compendium of facts and figures on the aviation journey so far, is a unique source of information for all stakeholders, scholars and researchers who desire to know how aviation has evolved over the past 100 years—from the first flight that landed in the ancient city of Kano in 1925.”
The book, widely anticipated within and beyond the aviation community, offers a sweeping and meticulously researched account of Nigeria’s aviation trajectory, capturing pivotal milestones, policy shifts, industry challenges, and strategic opportunities from 1925 to 2025.
“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,” Shadare explained.
The launch event will attract an array of high-profile stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, is billed to serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
Also expected in attendance are the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Umar Farouk; former NCAA DG, Dr. Harold Demuren; President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART), Dr. Gabriel Olowo; and former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Mr. Debo Adesina, among others.
Dr. Harold Demuren, who also wrote the preface to the book, will deliver the keynote address at the launch, offering a general overview of the aviation industry’s evolution and future outlook.
The book will be formally reviewed by Professor Anthony Kila, a Jean Monnet professor of strategy and development, political economist, and director at the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos. The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, is expected to chair the event.
In addition to the book presentation, the event will also host the maiden edition of the Aviation Metric Colloquium, which is set to become an annual platform for discourse on the pressing challenges and growth potential of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The theme of this inaugural edition is “Issues in the Growth and Development of Aviation in Nigeria: A Critical Perspective.”
The colloquium aims to convene decision-makers, thought leaders, and industry practitioners to generate actionable insights for reform and innovation.
Stakeholders are unanimous that with the book, Shadare not only documented a century of aviation in Nigeria, but also provides a unique lens into the industry’s future, offering an invaluable resource for policymakers, industry professionals, academics, and aviation enthusiasts.
