Human capital development is one of the mandates of the military through the “recruitment of high quality personnel, encouragement of effective training and exercise as well as promotion of proactive motivation and retention initiatives.”
There have been concerted efforts at closing gender gaps in the armed services, including the navy and air force. It is stated in the National Defence Policy that “Nigeria shall continue the phased implementation of the removal of gender restrictions in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Measures shall be introduced to increase the participation of women in the defence of the nation thus enhancing the promotion and employment opportunities available for women”.
It is however to be noted that in spite of the deliberate effort at recruiting women into the armed forces, their roles have been mainly limited to non-combat duties.
Some of the initiatives being implemented by the Nigerian military to close gender gaps include the commencement of training of female cadets as combatant officers in the Nigerian Defence Academy. This is expected to create unlimited opportunities for career progression and open the space for women to command combat units in the army; fly fighter planes in the air force, and their deployment as sailors in the Nigerian navy.
It is in line with this renewed determinations to have a military that places premium on the role of women in service of the fatherland, and the desire to build an inclusive generation of officers and airmen for the Nigerian Air Force, that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadeeq Baba Abubakar, has taken steps to build on existing efforts and to score a first by winging the first female fighter jet pilot and first female combat helicopter pilot.
In 2011, Blessing Liman was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Flying Officer, alongside 126 Direct Short Service cadets of 325 Ground Training Group in Kaduna as the first female pilot to be winged by Nigerian Air Force; but Flying Officer Kafayat Sani and Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile were the first female combatants to be commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force.
While Kafayat trained in Nigerian Defence Academy as regular combatant officer to be winged for a fixed wing fighter aircraft, Tolulope is the first female trained in Nigerian Defence Academy as a regular combatant officer to be winged as a combat helicopter pilot.
In the last 55 years of Nigerian Air Force, this is the first time it is winging combatants like other pioneers around the world to empower female soldiers to take up combat duties and even aspire to the highest position in the Nigerian Airforce.
Speaking at this momentous event at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Abuja, the elated Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar said:
“Out of the 13 pilots to be winged are two female regular combatant officers. Not only are they female officers, but they are also outstanding aviators. While one is the first female fighter pilot in the 55-year history of the Nigerian Air Force, the second is the first female fighter pilot trained at the US Air Force following an excellent performance during her initial flying training course at 401 Flying Training School in Kaduna, while the second graduated from Starlite International Training Academy. They both performed well during their training.
“Our records indicate that we have trained a total of 67 instructor pilots since 2015. Furthermore, with the winging of these pilots today, the NAF would have winged a total of 101 pilots within the same period”.
Also speaking at the event, the special guest of honour and Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, noted that the winging of the first female fighter pilot and first female combat helicopter pilot produced by the NAF, is a commendable feat. She added that the event attests to the laudable achievements and transformation taking place in the NAF and indeed portrays the service in good light. She affirmed that “the NAF is a gender friendly institution which has continually strived to provide equal opportunities for both male and female personnel.”
In his welcome address, the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, reiterated that the new pilots will no doubt boost the pilot manning capacity of the service as their deployment to the various NAF platforms will enhance the fulfillment of the constitutional roles of the NAF, especially in the ongoing operations in the North-east and North-west.
Also speaking on Kafayat, Captain Christy Martin who was her instructor at Columbus AFB said: “I think she is going to perform well. Sani has a very bubbly personality and was very positive throughout the whole training. Pilot training is a very strenuous course, but she has always stayed positive. I think she is very determined and very excited to go back and fly fighters in her country as well”.
On her part, the first female jet fighter said: “I was just lucky to be chosen. It was also my choice. It was what I wanted. And I felt everyone is not supposed to fold his or her arms and watch what is happening in our country. So I did not think there was any reason for me to think that it is not possible for me to actually fly the jet because there was no female that ever flew the jet. I believed I could achieve it and I did. It is a privilege for me to be winged as the first female fighter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force.”
Kafayat and Tolulope join other non-combat pilots in the service namely: Blessing Liman currently with the Presidential Air Fleet, Oluwabunmi Ijehu and Genevieve Nwaogwugwu currently flying intelligence reconnaissance surveillance and transport aircraft rrspectively.
At the event too, the NAF also decorated the first female Air Warrant Officer (AWO) in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Grace Garba, with her new rank. AWO Garba was promoted to the highest rank in the non commissioned officers’ cadre for her exceptional hard work and contributions to the service over the years.
As noted by the Director of Training, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ismail Yahaya, the winging of Kafayat and Tolulope is a record breaking event, an unprecedented miliestone and an attestation to the Air Chief’s determination to live up to his famous quote thus: “In the race to add value to society and secure our community, there is no finishing line…”
Even though Nigerian Air Force has inducted 101 pilots since 2015, none would resonate and have far reaching impact on the future of the service as the winging of Kafayat and Tolulope.
By taking this bold step, Abubakar has succeeded in building hope for aspiring young females who may decide to build a career in the Nigerian Air Force.
