Late Dan Kabo, Dantata, Aminu Kano, Bag Posthumous Awards At Aircraft Landing Centenary Celebration

The Late Adamu Dan Kabo, the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, 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 notable Nigerians honoured with posthumous awards at the 100-year anniversary of the first aircraft landing in Nigeria.

The three-day event, held in Kano and organised by the Caliphate Aviation Training Centre with support from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other partners, recognised their pioneering, unwavering contributions and legacies in the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Apart from the posthumous awards, several veterans, institutions, and individuals received awards of excellence and efficiency for their service and commitment to the growth of the aviation industry.

During the ceremony, the managing director of Caliphate Aviation Training Centre and head of Planning and Coordination for the centenary celebration, Sa’id Sa’ad, said the initiative was inspired by a desire to revive interest and investment in aviation as a potential driver of economic growth.

“A properly harnessed aviation sector can create thousands of jobs not only in the North but across Nigeria.

“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,” he said.

He added that the Caliphate Aviation Training Centre is focused on “training the next generation of aviators” through a structured mentorship programme that links retired aviation veterans with young enthusiasts.

In his keynote lecture titled “100 Years of Nigerian Aviation: The Legacy of the Nigerian Air Force” delivered by Flying Officers A. A. Sokoya and A. M. Ogunjemiyi traced the evolution of Nigeria’s aviation history from the first aircraft landing in Kano in 1925 to the establishment of the Nigerian Air Force in 1964.

They noted that over the past century, aviation has played a vital role in Nigeria’s national development, technological advancement, and defence, while calling for deeper collaboration between civil and military aviation to strengthen the sector’s global competitiveness.

Highlights of the event included lectures, the symbolic “passing of the baton” from veteran aviators to younger generations, flight simulations and demonstrations.