Recently updated on October 11th, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), has approved the promotion of Grace Garba, a Master Warrant Officer (MWO), to the rank of Air Warrant Officer (AWO) in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Ibikunle Daramola, an air commodore and director of public relations for the Nigerian Air Force, announced this in a statement on October 1, 2019 in Abuja.
He said with the promotion, MWO Garba becomes the first female senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) to be promoted to the highest rank in the non-commissioned officers’ cadre in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to the statement by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF):
“Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) has approved the promotion of Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Grace Garba to the exalted rank of AWO. The MWO earned the promotion for her exemplary leadership, hard work & contributions to the Service over the years.
MWO Garba becomes the first airwoman to be promoted to the highest rank in the Non-Commissioned Officers’ cadre. It is expected that this would serve as motivation & spur other airwomen to strive for excellence & aspire for such rare elevation.
The promotion demonstrates the commitment of the current NAF leadership to empower female personnel to realize their full potentials.
Further testaments to this include the recent completion of training in the USA by a Nigerian Air Force female officer to become the first female fighter jet pilot. Similarly, another female pilot is on the verge of completing training to become the first NAF female helicopter pilot.”
Air Warrant Officer Grace Garba
Born on February 14, 1966, in Garkida, Gombi local government area of Adamawa State, Garba joined the NAF in 1986 as a member of Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 10.
She holds a certificate in nursing from the School of Nursing, Maiduguri and another in midwifery from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.
The officer holds a certificate in public health nursing from School of Health Technology, Kaduna and an advanced diploma in public administration at the Federal University of Technology, Yola.
She is currently the regimental sergeant major (RSM) of the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM), Kaduna.
