Nigerian Air Force has on Tuesday, immortalised late Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile, by naming its newly renovated and remodelled pilots’ crew room at the 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt, Rivers state after her.
The country’s first female combat helicopter pilot, 24, died on July 14, 2020, from head injuries she sustained after she was knocked down by an SUV driven by her former classmate at the NAF Base in Kaduna state.
NAF said the late officer was “inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force secondary school classmate while trying to greet her.”
Read Also: Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolu Arotile Dies At 24
The air force in a statement by its spokesman, Comm. Ibikunle Daramola stated that the crew room housed 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 statement was titled, ‘NAF immortalizes first combat pilot, late flying officer Tolulope Arotile’.
The facility which also featured a newly constructed block of 18 two-bedroom flats for senior non-commissioned officers as well as a water project, was provided to ensure a conducive environment which would enable pilots to more effectively plan and execute assigned missions.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that;
Immortalizing the late flying officer 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.
Air Marshall Abubakar said that the step was significant in that it addressed another area of its policy thrust of the commitment to assure the air force personnel that their sacrifices would never be in vain.
He said the gesture has been sustained through the immortalisation of personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.
Read Also: Tolulope Arotile: Driver, Owner Of Vehicle That Hit Late Flying Officer Arraigned
Abubakar noted;
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 Air Marshal added that the objective has always been to acknowledge the contributions of the personnel towards securing the country, while making sure that they and their sacrifices remain forever fresh “in our minds and indeed in the minds of Nigerians”.
He also said that the Nigeria Air force has produced other pilots that have distinguished themselves such as first female pilot, Flt Lt Liman, who flies one of the most sophisticated aircraft in its inventory, the Falcon 7X, as well as Flying Officer Sani, the first and only female fighter pilot in NAF.
He called on girls to aspire for career opportunities in NAF, saying that there is no limit to what they can achieve.
