Keyamo, Top Aviation Chiefs to Grace Historic ‘100 Years of Aviation in Nigeria’ Book Launch in Lagos
All is set for the launch of a seminal publication titled 100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects, scheduled to take place on Friday, 23 May 2025, at Golfview Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The book launch is expected to be a landmark event in the country’s aviation sector, drawing the attendance of top government officials, aviation professionals, and industry stakeholders.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, will lead the high-profile attendees at the occasion, which will celebrate Nigeria’s century-long journey in civil aviation.
The book, written by renowned aviation editor of New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr Wole Shadare, chronicles the evolution, challenges, and future outlook of the Nigerian aviation sector from 1925 to 2025.
According to Shadare, several key figures in the industry have confirmed their participation at the event. These include 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; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk.
Also expected at the launch are former NCAA Director-General, Dr Harold Demuren; Chairman of Resort Group and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Wale Babalakin; former President of the Aviation Safety Round Table (ART), Dr Gabriel Olowo; and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Togo, Mr Debo Adesina, among other dignitaries.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Shadare described the 25-chapter book as “a compendium of facts and figures on the aviation journey” in Nigeria, specifically tailored to assist scholars, researchers, and professionals in understanding how aviation has evolved in the country over the last century.
The Foreword to the book, written by Dr Demuren, underscores the publication’s academic and historical significance. “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,” he wrote.
Dr Demuren added that the book does not merely explore historical events but also “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 noted that the book is the first comprehensive and updated work to cover the full span of Nigeria’s aviation journey over 100 years, making it a critical resource for airline operators, regulators, service providers, students, and policy makers.
The book will be 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 event will be chaired by Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, who also serves as Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos.
In a further boost to the occasion, the launch will host the inaugural edition of the Aviation Metric Colloquium — an annual forum initiated to bring together policy makers and key stakeholders to deliberate on pressing issues confronting the aviation industry.
This year’s colloquium will take place under the theme: Issues in the Growth and Development of Aviation in Nigeria: A Critical Perspective.
According to Shadare, the forum will serve as a platform to critique developments in the sector and propose viable solutions to its enduring challenges.
The historic celebration of Nigeria’s centenary in aviation promises to be a defining moment for the industry, as stakeholders reflect on the past, confront the present, and shape the future of air travel in the country.
