Air Force Immortalizes Late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile

The Nigerian Air Force immortalized the late First female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile who died on July 14 in Kaduna State. 

 Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s First female combat helicopter pilot, was hit with a car driven by her ex-classmate, leading to her death at the age of 24. 

 She died as a result of head injuries she sustained from the accident, which happened at the Nigerian Air Force base in Kaduna state. 

 The Air Force has now immortalized the deceased, naming a Pilots Crew ‘Room’ at the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG) Port Harcourt after her. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Air Force spokesman, Ibikunle Daramola.

According to the statement, the CAS said immortalizing 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. 

 Speaking during the ceremony, which also featured the commissioning of a newly constructed Block of 18 x two-bedroom flats for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) as well as a water project, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that immortalizing 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 said. 

 Air Marshal Abubakar noted that immortalizing 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.