Nigeria Customs’ first female pilot bags US multi-engine licence

The first female pilot of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nafisat Balogun, has secured a commercial multi-engine pilot licence in the United States of America.

The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Maiwada said that following the feat, the Superintendent of Customs was honoured at a ceremony organised by the Nigeria Customs Technical Hangar Service recently.

He 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 a 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.

Mbaya described her achievement as a source of pride to the service, noting that the officer 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,” he said.

Mbaya 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 urged women to take Balogun’s accomplishment as a challenge to pursue their ambitions in specialised fields without fear, as barriers were being broken for them to thrive.

“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,” Mbaya said.

He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs (C-G), Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership and continued 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 reaffirmed her commitment to discharging her duties diligently and to continuing to serve with dedication, integrity and professionalism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 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.