Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, is expected to lead a distinguished list of industry stakeholders and dignitaries at the official launch of a new book chronicling the centenary of civil aviation in Nigeria.
The book, titled “100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects”, is authored by renowned aviation journalist and editor with New Telegraph newspaper, Mr. Wole Shadare.
The launch is scheduled to hold on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Golfview Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
According to a statement released by the author, the event will draw the attendance of several high-ranking officials and industry veterans.
Among those expected are 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; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk.
Also on the guest list are former NCAA Director-General, Dr. Harold Demuren; Chairman of Resort Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); former President of the Aviation Safety Round Table (ART), Dr. Gabriel Olowo; and former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Mr. Debo Adesina.
Shadare described the book as a 25-chapter volume that documents the growth, challenges, and milestones of Nigeria’s aviation sector over the past 100 years. “It is a compendium of facts and figures that will be of immense value to scholars, researchers, and industry stakeholders,” he said.
In his foreword to the book, Dr. Demuren lauded Shadare for his thorough research and detailed narrative, saying the book presents the story of Nigeria’s aviation industry with both historical context and analysis of contemporary issues.
These include regulatory dynamics, management of aviation agencies, bilateral air service agreements, and the politics surrounding the push for a national carrier.
The book will be reviewed by Prof. Anthony Kila, a Jean Monnet professor of strategy and development and Director at the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos.
The launch event will be chaired by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), who also serves as Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).
In addition to the book presentation, the event will feature the inaugural Aviation Metric Colloquium, which is expected to become an annual platform for discourse on sectoral reforms.
The theme for this year’s edition is “Issues in the Growth and Development of Aviation in Nigeria: A Critical Perspective”.
The colloquium will bring together key players, analysts, and policymakers to deliberate on solutions to persistent challenges in the aviation sector.
