A 31-year-old Nigerian woman named Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has made history as the first Nigerian female to pilot the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the world’s most advanced aircraft.
Adeola’s accomplishment sets her aside as the aviation industry is known to be male-dominated. According to a research from Women in Aviation Board, women make up less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation careers—and only 4.6% of airline transport pilots worldwide.
Nevertheless, Adeola proved to be special and is now flying long-distance international routes for Qatar Airways.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, known for its cutting-edge technology and long-distance capabilities is challenging to pilot. It reaches speeds of Mach 0.85 (1,024 km/h) and carries up to 250 passengers.
Growing up in Nigeria, Adeola faced early challenges in her education due to religious conflicts that forced her to change schools multiple times.
Still, she remained focused on her dreams. In 2007, she completed her secondary education. Afterward, she enrolled in a pre-degree program at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo State. However, her passion for aviation was prioritized.
Determined to become a pilot, Adeola enrolled at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, where she trained from 2009 to 2010. She then traveled to Florida, in the United States, for advanced training at Sunrise Aviation Inc.
After completing her training, she returned to Nigeria to launch her professional career. Adeola began working for Medview Airlines in Lagos as a First Officer on the Boeing 737 in 2013.
Later, she was promoted to fly the Boeing 767-300ER, marking a significant step forward in her career. In 2018, she made history by joining Qatar Airways as the first Nigerian woman to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on long-haul routes.
And in 2020, Adeola started flying the Lagos-to-Abuja route for Qatar Airways, solidifying her position as a respected international pilot.
With her accomplishments, Adeola paved the way for more Nigerian women to enter the aviation industry, proving that dreams are achievable with dedication and courage no matter the gender or race.
