Former president Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that his government approved the training of female officers as combatants to offer opportunities to interested girls to have glowing military careers.
The former Bayelsa State governor made the revelation in his tribute to Tolulope Arotile, the first female combat helicopter pilot of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), who died in very controversial circumstances earlier in the month.
Jonathan regretted that the 24 year old died in her prime, describing the deceased as a brave patriot who pushed her self beyond limits to demonstrate her uncommon love for Nigeria. According to the the ex-president, the departed Arotile made the country proud by her service.
In 2011, the former president created a policy framework which allowed females interested in becoming combatant officers for the Nigerian armed forces to be admitted into the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
“In 2011 when my administration introduced females into the Nigeria Defence Academy to train as combatants, for the first time, it was to give equal opportunities to all men and women of the armed forces and encourage highly driven female officers like Tolulope to excel in her chosen career, irrespective of their gender,” Jonathan wrote in a social media post.
“I feel sad that such a young gallant officer would die at the prime of her life. I am however encouraged by the fact that she stood out as a pleasing fulfillment of our dream of an all-embracing Nigeria armed forces devoid of discrimination.
“She was a brave patriot who pushed her self beyond limits to demonstrate her uncommon love for our dear nation. In the process, she made us all proud.
“By dedicating her young life to protect and defend Nigeria’s strength, honour and unity, her memory and legacy will continue to serve as a great inspiration to our youth especially our girls.”
Arotile’s demise shocked so many who had followed her military career. However, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation has called for a probe into the circumstances leading to the death of the young combatant, refusing to buy into the official line that she died in a “freak accident.”
