Former NSIB chief calls for balance between new aviation technology and everyday safety routines
A former head of Nigeria’s accident investigation body has urged aviation professionals to adopt new tools without abandoning the routine checks, clear communication and trained judgement that keep flights safe.
Akin Olateru, former Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and Chairman of OmniBlu Aviation Services, spoke while chairing the second induction ceremony of the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame in Lagos. He noted that airlines now use systems like biometric boarding, electronic flight bags and emissions-tracking software. Passengers also expect faster rebooking during disruptions and more accurate delay updates. At the same time, fuel costs and environmental reporting requirements are pushing operators to plan routes and aircraft use more carefully.
“New technologies, changing passenger expectations, sustainability concerns and emerging opportunities are transforming the way we think about air transportation,” Olateru said. “In this changing environment, the values represented by today’s inductees, professionalism, leadership, innovation and service remain as important as ever.”
He added that a single flight depends on pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin crew, airport staff, regulators, entrepreneurs and technicians. A missed checklist item or an unclear handover between shifts can create problems that no software upgrade can fix.
The ceremony honoured 18 Nigerians from regulation, administration, flight operations, engineering and aviation leadership. Some were recognised posthumously, with family members attending to receive the honour. Olateru described the induction as a reminder that “excellence matters, service matters, integrity matters, and legacy matters.” He encouraged younger professionals to study the inductees’ careers and learn from their training habits, decisions under pressure and long-term commitment to safety.
Wole Shadare, Co-Convener of the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame, said an independent panel selected the inductees. He added that the initiative exists to preserve records of aviation pioneers so future generations have practical examples of what worked, what failed and what should be repeated.
“This induction is not merely an award. It is an eternal roll call of honour. Your names, achievements and legacies are forever enshrined in the history of Nigerian aerospace,” Shadare said.