The first female pilot of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nafisat Balogun, has secured a commercial multi-engine pilot licence in the United States of America.
The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, noting that Balogun was honoured at a ceremony organised by the Nigeria Customs Technical Hangar Service.
Maiwada said Balogun’s achievement marked a historic milestone as she became the first female pilot in the NCS, a field dominated by men. He described her resilience, discipline, and determination as motivation for officers to strive for success and leverage new opportunities within the service.
Speaking at the celebration, the Managing Director of the Customs Technical Hangar Service, Captain Kuhi Mbaya, described Balogun’s journey as inspiring and transformative, noting that she rose from being a cabin attendant to a fully-fledged commercial pilot.
“This is a great achievement not only for her but for the entire service. For the first time, we now have a female pilot in the NCS. She has set a record, and it is important that we celebrate and recognise this milestone,” Mbaya said.
He urged women to take Balogun’s accomplishment as a charge to pursue their ambitions in specialised fields without fear, adding that the glass ceiling has been shattered.
Mbaya also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership and constant support for gender inclusion within the service.
Responding, Balogun thanked the NCS for believing in her capacity and supporting her to achieve the feat, reaffirming her commitment to discharge her duties with dedication, integrity, and professionalism.
In 2024, the NCS announced Balogun as making history as the first female pilot in the service, rising from a cabin crew member to a trailblazer in aviation.
