Nigeria’s aviation history is set to gain a permanent place in one of the country’s busiest airport terminals as the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II, Lagos, have entered into a partnership to honour individuals who played significant roles in building the nation’s aviation industry.
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday at the BASL headquarters in Lagos, paving the way for the joint hosting and management of the NAHF Montage, a permanent wall of honour to be installed at MMA2.
The initiative is designed to preserve the legacy of Nigeria’s aviation pioneers by displaying their photographs, professional profiles and citations at the terminal, ensuring that their contributions remain visible to millions of passengers and visitors passing through the facility.
The partnership comes ahead of the maiden induction ceremony of the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame, with work on the installation of the permanent montage already underway at MMA2.
Under the terms of the agreement, BASL will provide the space required for the display, as well as security and maintenance, while NAHF will oversee the curation of content, periodic updates and the induction process.
Co-founder of NAHF and veteran aviation journalist, Wole Shadare, said the initiative was driven by the need to recognise aviation professionals whose contributions have sometimes gone uncelebrated despite decades of service to the country.
Shadare, who has spent more than 25 years reporting on the aviation sector, said the Hall of Fame was created as a platform to appreciate industry pioneers while they could still witness the recognition.
“For over 25 years I have reported on this sector and seen many heroes retire without recognition. The Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame is our way of saying thank you while we are still here to clap for them,” Shadare said.
His fellow co-founder, Gboyega Adeoye, said the partnership with BASL would go beyond preserving the history of Nigerian aviation, describing it as an avenue to inspire a new generation of aviation professionals.
Adeoye said the initiative would expose younger Nigerians to the achievements and values of those who helped build the industry.
“This is about history, values, and inspiring young Nigerians coming into aviation. We are proud that Bi-Courtney shares this vision with us,” Adeoye said.
Representing BASL at the signing ceremony, the company’s Head of Marketing and Creative Services, Gbubemi Aibangbee, said the decision to locate the montage at MMA2 was significant because of the terminal’s large passenger traffic.
According to her, the permanent display would provide travellers with an opportunity to learn about the professionals whose work helped establish and develop Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“MMA2 welcomes millions of passengers yearly and now they will also be welcomed by the faces of excellence who laid the foundation for Nigerian aviation. It is truly a win-win,” Aibangbee said.
The NAHF said 18 aviators had been selected for induction into the inaugural Hall of Fame. The honourees were selected on the basis of their decades of service, integrity, leadership and contributions to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The organisers said the permanent montage would serve a dual purpose: paying tribute to aviation achievers of the past while also functioning as an educational resource for passengers, industry stakeholders, students and young Nigerians considering careers in aviation.
The initiative is expected to give greater visibility to the history of an industry whose development has involved generations of pilots, engineers, administrators, air traffic controllers, entrepreneurs, regulators and other professionals.
By placing the stories of the honourees in a major airport terminal, the organisers hope to make aviation history accessible beyond industry conferences and specialist publications.
The NAHF Montage is scheduled to be formally unveiled at MMA2 on Friday, September 4, by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The unveiling will precede the main induction ceremony, which is scheduled to take place at Golfview Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The organisers will also use the occasion to launch the maiden edition of its publication, Aviation Achievers, which is expected to document the stories and accomplishments of notable figures in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
For the organisers, the project represents an effort to ensure that the individuals who helped build Nigerian aviation are remembered not merely through industry records, but through a visible and lasting monument that can be encountered by the travelling public and future generations of aviation professionals.