ole Shadare, the Aviation Editor of New Telegraph Newspaper, is set to unveil a landmark book that documents the evolution and major events in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the past 100 years. The book, described as one of the most comprehensive works on the subject, will be officially launched on May 23, 2023, at an event expected to draw key figures in the aviation sector.
In a statement released in Lagos, Shadare described the book as a “compendium of facts and figures” that tracks the journey of Nigerian aviation from the very first aircraft that landed in Kano in 1925 to its current state. The 368-page publication is the first of its kind to offer a detailed and updated account of the industry, covering both historical and recent developments up to 2025.
According to the author, the book is not only for aviation experts but also serves as a rich resource for students, scholars, researchers, service providers, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the sector’s evolution.
He explained that his decades of journalism and access to insider information helped him put together the book in a way that places Nigeria’s aviation journey in its proper context. Shadare noted that the story of the industry has often been told in bits and fragments, but this publication seeks to offer a unified and accurate perspective.
Among those expected at the launch are the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, and other major stakeholders. These include 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), Umar Farouk; and former NCAA DG, Dr Harold Demuren.
Demuren, who also wrote the preface of the book, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address and provide a general overview of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The event will also feature the first edition of the Aviation Metric Colloquium, an initiative that will become an annual platform to bring together key players and decision-makers in the industry to discuss pressing issues and propose viable solutions.
Other notable participants at the book launch include Prof. Jean Monnet, who will review the book, and Prof. Anthony Kila, Director at the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced and Professional Studies in Lagos, who will offer additional insights. The event will be chaired by Dr Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.
The launch of this book marks an important contribution to Nigeria’s aviation literature and is expected to stimulate broader conversations on the challenges and prospects of the industry as it enters its second century.
