A Young Woman Soaring With Wings! Meet Nigerian Commercial Pilot, Imoleayo Adebule – Flying the Skies at 23

At 23, Imoleayo Adebule is one of Nigeria’s youngest female pilots. Intelligent, daring, and confident are three words that best describe the tenacity with which she passed through one of the most complex schools in the world – Flying School, to obtain her license as a Commercial Pilot. Imoleayo has excelled in a profession that is not only averse to people of her gender, but quite difficult even to people of the opposite sex. Having graduated at the top of her class at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Kaduna, she now works with Aero Contractors where she is making giant strides. She shares her inspiring story with Adeola Adeyemo in this exclusive interview.

Starting Off                      

Imoleayo has always been a brilliant girl. Born on 25^th September, 1988 in Kaduna, she sailed through Primary and Secondary Schools faster than most of her peers. At 15, she was already through with her Secondary education at Royal College, Kaduna. Then came her search for an admission into the University where she wanted to study Mechanical Engineering. This was a very frustrating period for her as it lasted three years. “I finished in 2003 and I couldn’t get admission into the University,” she recalled. “I wanted to go to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, but between 2003 and 2006, I didn’t get admission.”

It was during her search for admission that she heard about an Engineering course being offered at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Kaduna. “A family friend that works in Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Kaduna, came over and told me about an Engineering course going on in the school, so I decided to apply for it. The name of the course is Air Frame and Power Plant,” she said.

To Imoleayo, becoming a pilot was “fate”. When she got to the College, she was disappointed to find out that they were no longer admitting students for the course. She was faced with the option of waiting for one more year or applying for the other available course which was Standard Piloting. Reluctantly, and with urging from her Mum and some Instructors at the College, she applied for the course.

Help, My Child is Fat!

Folake watched with a mixture of fear and embarrassment as her son, Chijioke, tried with obvious difficulty to play with his peers. A group of boys, about seven of them swarmed excitedly around a slide, making hasty steps up the ladder and screaming excitedly as they slid down.

Then it was Chijioke’s turn.

The plastic slide shook dangerously as he made clumsy steps up the ladder. Then he reached the top, swung his legs over with much difficulty and let herself go. Folake almost thought her son made it until there was a loud crack. Her worst fear had been relieved. The slide gave in somewhere at the bottom as some part of it broke off. With tears running down his cheeks, Chijioke went over to his mother, followed by jeers from the other kids.

At the age of nine, he weighed 70kg and his waist was 36 inches thick.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!! 

I’m sorry this is coming kinda late, but Happy New Year all the same.

I want to particularly thank everyone who has given me support on my blog in the past year, especially my followers. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of my blog, even when I haven’t been quite regular with my posts. I promise to do better this year.

Wish you all success and fulfillment this year!