Accra, Ghana – June 21, 2025
Flight Lieutenant Kafayat Omolara Sanni, Nigeria’s trailblazing first female fighter pilot, has once again etched her name in the annals of African military history by emerging as the Best Allied Student and recipient of the Best Assistant Commandant Paper at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Accra.
The prestigious awards were conferred on June 20, 2025, during the college’s graduation ceremony attended by senior military officials, defence attachés, and dignitaries from across the continent.
Flt Lt Sanni first captured national attention in 2019 when she became the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) first female fighter pilot after completing her flight training in the United States. Since then, she has flown the Alpha Jet in various operational missions and served as a prolific instructor on the Super Mushshak aircraft, mentoring the next generation of NAF pilots.
Her latest academic and professional achievements at GAFCSC not only exemplify her personal dedication, discipline, and excellence but also reinforce Nigeria’s stature as a regional leader in defence and military professionalism. It also reflects the increasing success of gender inclusion in the Nigerian armed forces.
The feat has been widely celebrated as a reflection of the Nigerian Air Force’s sustained commitment to human capital development under the leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar.
Flt Lt Sanni’s success serves as a beacon of inspiration to young women across Nigeria and Africa, highlighting the evolving role of women in military leadership and operations.
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