Africa got its first female pilot in 1964, but the tremendous feat was insufficient to inspire additional women to pursue careers in aviation. Over the years, women were only trained as flight attendants, which seemed to be the most appealing job in the aviation industry. Piloting was primarily reserved for men until women began to show an interest in the sector in order to diversify and realize their ambitions.
Three Nigerian sisters, Mopelola, Oluwaseun, and Oluwafunmilayo Makinde, have broken down gender obstacles to seek careers in aviation. Their father, Captain Wale Makinde, a seasoned helicopter pilot, inspired them to become pilots. Captain Makinde, who works for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, told his children fascinating stories about his work as they grew up.
Mopelola Makinde, the eldest of the three, grew up hearing her father’s stories of “flying helicopters to remote and challenging terrains,” and as she grew older, she realized she, too, wanted to be a pilot, according to blackwallst.media.
With the aid of her family, she overcame all hurdles to obtain her pilot’s license and is now a helicopter pilot. Oluwaseun Makinde, the middle sister, observed her father’s dedication to his career, which influenced her to follow in his footsteps. People were surprised by her decision to enter a male-dominated business, but she was unfazed and is now a helicopter pilot who inspires her neighborhood and beyond.
Oluwafunmilayo Makinde, the youngest of the three sisters, chose a different path in the same industry. Her sisters picked helicopters, whereas she chose to learn to become a fixed-wing pilot. Oluwafunmilayo Makinde told Alpha Bravo TV that she has always admired planes.
“I loved planes. I always remember seeing myself when I was younger, I would run out of the house when I hear a plane is going out. I just wanted to stare at a plane…It was so beautiful to behold.”
She stated she didn’t know if she wanted to be a pilot or a passenger at the time, until her mother asked her one day whether she wanted to fly planes. That influenced her decision to become a fixed-wing pilot.
Surprisingly, all three Nigerian sisters are married and have managed to reconcile their work and personal life despite the demands of their industry, according to blackwallst.media.
African women have demonstrated that they are a force to be reckoned with via the fight for equality and the provision of human rights and benefits to women in society. They are increasingly leading and controlling the domains in which they find themselves, with an increasing proportion of them becoming true leaders of male-dominated industries such as aviation.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) most recent global study, Africa now has the greatest number of female pilots, at 5.2%, up from 4.1% in 2016.
The Makinde sisters are encouraging other women to work harder in order to attain their goals.
