The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), first female pilot, Nafisat Balogun, has secured a commercial multi-engine pilot licence in the US.
This was made known in a statement signed by the image maker of NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Sunday in Abuja.
Maiwada in the statement said that Balogun, who is a Superintendent of Customs was honoured at a ceremony organised by the Nigeria Customs Technical Hangar Service recently as a result of the
feat.
Balogun’s achievement, the spokesman , said marks a historic milestone as she became the first female pilot in the NCS, a male dominated field.
The Customs spokesman said that Balogun’s resilience, discipline and determination is a motivation for officers to strive for success and leverage new opportunities within the service.
Speaking at the ceremony to honour Balogun, the Managing Director of the Customs Technical Hangar Service, Capt. Kuhi Mbaya, described Balogun’s journey as not only inspiring but also transformative.
Balogun’s feat, Mbaya said is a source of pride for the NCS , adding that the officer rose from being a cabin attendant to a full-fledged commercial pilot.
According to Mbaya, “This is a great achievement not only for her but for the entire service.”
He said said that her accomplishment had set a precedent in the service and reflected the evolving opportunities within it.
“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,” he said.
He advised women to consider Balogun’s accomplishment as a charge to pursue their ambitions in specialised fields without fear, as barriers were being broken for them to thrive.
In his words, “This achievement shows that there are no limits. The glass ceiling has been shattered, and with determination and consistency, more women can achieve their dreams.”
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs (CG), 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.
She restated her commitment to discharge her duties diligently and to continue to serve with dedication, integrity and professionalism.
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