For the Director of Administration at Caliphate Air Services, Hassan Abdulhamid, the commemoration was not only to honour history but also to encourage young Nigerians to consider career in aviation.
“We are celebrating 100 years since the first aircraft landed in Nigeria, which graciously happened here in Kano. We want students to experience aviation first-hand — from ticketing and boarding to interacting with pilots and engineers. We hope this will ignite their passion and guide them toward aviation careers.”
He explained that the first two days of the event have been dedicated to secondary school students, while university students and lecturers will later present research papers to help bridge the data gap in the aviation sector.
“There is very little data on aviation in this part of the country. We want to bridge that gap by involving universities to conduct research that will benefit the industry,” Abdulhamid said.
Dr Yusuf Madugu from Bayero University, Kano (BUK), said that the first aircraft to land in Nigeria was on November 1, 1925 in Kano.
“The flight, led by Lieutenant Arthur Cunningham, came from Egypt via Khartoum and N’Djamena. It landed at the Kano Racecourse, now the Polo Club, because there was no airport at the time. Smoke from a fire was used to signal the pilot where to land,” he explained.
Dr. Madugu added that Kano’s position as a commercial and religious hub made it the preferred destination for the historic flight.
“Kano was the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. That was why the colonial authorities chose it as the first point of air entry into the country,” he said.
The celebration featured a historical exhibition on the evolution of aviation in Nigeria, discussions on the role of aviation in economic development, and tributes to pioneers who shaped the industry.
Other attractions included a static airshow, kiting competitions for children, and live air demonstrations.
Organisers said the event aims to rekindle public interest in aviation and reaffirm Kano’s place as the cradle of Nigeria’s air transport.
