When Ogun Took to the Skies: A Dream That Found Its Wings
The morning of October 7, 2025, dawned with a different light over Ilishan-Remo — soft, golden, and deliberate, as if the sun itself had come to bear witness. The land that once echoed with the sound of bulldozers now hummed with the anticipation of flight. On that morning, the Gateway International Airport, Ogun State’s most daring vision, finally came alive.
At the heart of the ceremony stood Governor Dapo Abiodun, CON, calm and reflective, the quiet pride of accomplishment in his eyes. Around him, a cross-section of Ogun’s finest — public servants, engineers, lawmakers, journalists, and residents — gathered not merely to witness an event, but to see a dream take shape against the clear Remo sky.
At precisely 10:10 a.m., the ValueJet CRJ-900 aircraft, registration number 5N-BXS, rolled forward with steady poise, its engines singing like a chorus of fulfilled promises. As it lifted gracefully into the air, applause thundered through the terminal and across the tarmac. In that moment, the Gateway State truly became what it had always called itself — the entry point to progress.
The flight from Iperu to Abuja carried not only passengers but purpose. On board were dignitaries whose dedication had shaped Ogun’s journey — Senator Lekan Mustapha, Senator Shuaib Salisu, former Chief of Staff to the Governor when the idea was conceived; Hon. Ganiyu Isiaka, Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, Hon. Biyi Adeleye, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, the Commissioner for Transportation; Engr. Ade Akinsanya, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure; Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, the Head of Service; and Chief Kunle Soname, the Chairman of ValueJet, among others. Each carried an expression that told of satisfaction long earned — the quiet reward of resilience.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was one of dignified excitement. The ValueJet crew exuded professionalism — pleasant, courteous, and reassuring. Every gesture was deliberate, every smile sincere, and every announcement calm and clear. The hostesses moved with the grace of those aware they were part of history, offering refreshments and comfort with a warmth that mirrored Ogun’s hospitality. Their composure and precision reflected the airline’s growing reputation for safety and service excellence. The flight itself was seamless — the kind of calm passage that inspires trust, faith, and fulfillment.
Everywhere in that cabin, pride blended with reflection. The Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, described the flight as “a triumph of leadership and foresight,” adding that Governor Abiodun’s determination had “turned doubt into concrete and dreams into departure gates.” His words captured the spirit of the moment — the transformation of what once seemed improbable into living proof of possibility.
Senator Lekan Mustapha, speaking with quiet conviction, observed that “progress does not wait for permission — it finds its wings when the right hands guide it.” His statement resonated deeply among fellow passengers who had witnessed the Governor’s persistence in seeing the project through to fruition.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, who oversaw the airport’s construction, was visibly moved. He described the experience as “a personal and institutional victory,” saying that “every second in the air was a reminder that Ogun can dream, design, and deliver.” His counterpart, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, the Commissioner for Transportation, nodded in affirmation, remarking that “Ogun did not just fly an aircraft today — it flew a message of competence and continuity.”
Hon. Biyi Adeleye, noted for his eloquence, called the journey “the manifestation of a long-awaited dream that has now found its wings.” He continued, “Ogun has written her name upon the skies, and history will remember this not merely as a flight, but as the declaration of a destiny fulfilled.”
Also on board, Chief Kunle Soname, the visionary Chairman of ValueJet, could hardly conceal his delight. His joy was palpable — the kind that comes from seeing a dream align with destiny. Upon return to Iperu, his face bore the unmistakable glow of fulfillment. “This is more than business,” he said with emotion. “This is legacy — the affirmation that private enterprise can complement public vision to create something truly historic.” His words summed up the spirit of partnership that powered the flight and the broader development dream of Ogun State.
The flight was flawless from takeoff to touchdown — a portrait of precision, grace, and confidence. When the aircraft landed in Abuja, the applause that filled the cabin carried more than excitement; it carried history. Ogun had officially joined the ranks of Nigerian states with operational, world-class airports.
The return flight to Iperu was equally symbolic. When the aircraft began its descent at exactly 4:40 p.m., it did so beneath a golden sunset, the sky glowing in hues of victory. From the ground, drums rolled, and flags waved in celebration. The Gateway International Airport welcomed its own — homecoming under heaven’s applause.
As the passengers disembarked, emotion filled the air. Smiles mingled with tears of pride; laughter echoed through the terminal. The commissioners and dignitaries, visibly elated, spoke as men who had been part of something far greater than themselves. “We have built not just an airport,” said Engr. Dairo, “but a legacy — a symbol of what Ogun can achieve when vision meets will.”
The symbolism of the day was unmistakable. It was not merely about aviation; it was about affirmation — the validation of vision through perseverance. Once dismissed as “a farmland too far from anywhere,” the same soil now cradled a modern marvel, a hub ready to connect Ogun to the world. As Walt Whitman once wrote, “The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” Ogun had indeed contributed her verse — bold, beautiful, and bound for greatness.
As dusk settled, the runway lights glimmered like constellations newly charted by progress. The terminal gleamed, the control tower stood tall, and the Ogun flag fluttered beside the national colors — a quiet testament that the Gateway State had found its wings. Murmurs of awe filled the evening air, each carrying a single shared sentiment: that history had smiled upon Ogun.
For Governor Dapo Abiodun, this was more than an infrastructural triumph; it was a moral vindication — the proof that persistence conquers doubt. His administration had pledged transformation through infrastructure, technology, and partnership, and on that day, that promise quite literally took flight. “We have not just opened an airport,” he remarked softly, “we have opened Ogun’s future.”
The Gateway International Airport now stands as a metaphor — a monument to what leadership can achieve when guided by vision, courage, and faith. Its first commercial flight was not just a journey between two cities, but between disbelief and belief, intention and realization, vision and victory.
As the night fell and the lights shimmered across the runway, they seemed to whisper one enduring truth: no dream is too high for Ogun to reach. The skies that once seemed distant now belong to her. And in the heart of every Ogun citizen that day, pride soared higher than any aircraft ever could.
Because on October 7, 2025, the Gateway truly opened — and Ogun, at last, took to the skies.
Tayo Mabeweje
Senior Special Assistant (Media)
Office of the Governor, Ogun State
