The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has immortalised Tolulope Arotile, its first female combat helicopter pilot, who died in a freak road accident on 14 July 2020, triggering national anguish.
On 14 July 2020, the first female combat pilot was knocked down and killed by her secondary school classmate, Nehemiah Adejor.
According to the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the newly renovated and remodelled Pilots’ Crew ‘Room’ at the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG) Port Harcourt has been renamed after the 24-year-old promising officer.
Don’t miss: Tolulope Arotile Biography: Early life, education, combat pilot career and death
Before her death, Arotile was involved in operations against banditry and criminal activities in the country.
Daramola said the honour was for her invaluable contributions.
The Pilots’ Crew Room houses an operations briefing room, computer room/library, pilots’ life-support room and lounge as well as a kitchen, dining room, changing room for pilots on standby and several restrooms.
The facility was provided to ensure a conducive environment, which would enable pilots to more effectively plan and execute assigned missions.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated on Tuesday that immortalising late Flying Officer Arotile was done, not only to honour her memory but also to further inspire young girls in Nigeria to study, work hard and pursue their dreams and legitimate aspirations with pride and honour.
“It is gratifying to note that, since late Tolulope’s demise, many young Nigerian girls have indicated their interest to join the NAF. Besides, no fewer than 12 other female officers, who have undoubtedly been motivated by her inspirational life and the unprecedented and exemplary contributions by other female and male pilots, are currently undergoing flying training, both within and outside the country, to become NAF pilots”, the CAS says.
Air Marshal Abubakar noted that immortalising late Flying Officer Arotile also addressed another area of the NAF’s policy thrust which is the commitment to assure personnel that their sacrifices would never be in vain.
According to him, the policy has been sustained through the immortalization of personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the Nation.
“The objective has always been to acknowledge their contributions towards securing our country, while making sure that they and their sacrifices remain forever fresh in our minds and indeed in the minds of Nigerians”, he adds.
The CAS, who expressed excitement to see some of her colleagues who were at the commissioning to celebrate her memory, noted that late Flying Officer Arotile lives on in the hearts of those coming after her.
He encouraged more young girls to aspire for career opportunities in the NAF as he says: “there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
Air Marshal Abubakar also commissioned a Block of 18 x two-bedroom flats for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) as well as a water project.
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