Kano marks 100 years of first aircraft landing

Notable Nigerians, including the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the late Adamu Dan Kabo, the late Emir Usman Bin Abdullahi II (the 9th Emir of Kano), the late Sa’ad Sa’id, and the late Mallam Aminu Kano, were among distinguished personalities honoured with posthumous awards at the centenary celebration marking 100 years since the first aircraft landed […]

Notable Nigerians, including the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the late Adamu Dan Kabo, the late Emir Usman Bin Abdullahi II (the 9th Emir of Kano), the late Sa’ad Sa’id, and the late Mallam Aminu Kano, were among distinguished personalities honoured with posthumous awards at the centenary celebration marking 100 years since the first aircraft landed in Nigeria.

The three-day event, held in Kano, was organised by the Caliphate Aviation Training Centre in collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other aviation stakeholders.

It celebrated the pioneering roles and enduring legacies of those who contributed to the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s aviation sector. Aside from the posthumous recognitions, several veterans, institutions, and individuals were also presented with awards of excellence and efficiency for their service and dedication to the industry’s development.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sa’ad Sa’id Sa’ad, Managing Director of Caliphate Aviation Training Centre and Head of Planning and Coordination for the centenary celebration, said the initiative was motivated by a desire to rekindle public interest and investment in aviation as a catalyst for economic growth.

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“A properly harnessed aviation sector can create thousands of jobs not only in the North but across Nigeria,” he said. “Since the first aircraft landed in Kano, we’ve had the divine opportunity to build on that legacy. The future is bright — we have the manpower, traffic, and capacity; all we need is to put our house in order.”

Delivering a keynote lecture titled “100 Years of Nigerian Aviation: The Legacy of the Nigerian Air Force,” Flying Officers A. A. Sokoya and A. M. Ogunjemiyi traced the evolution of the aviation industry from the first aircraft landing in Kano in 1925 to the establishment of the Nigerian Air Force in 1964.

The duo noted that aviation has played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s national development, technological advancement, and defence over the past century.

They called for stronger collaboration between the civil and military aviation sectors to position Nigeria competitively in the global aviation space.