NAF IMMORTALIZES LATE FIRST COMBAT HELICOPTER PILOT, FLYING OFFICER TOLULOPE AROTILE, AS CAS COMMISSIONS INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS IN PORT HARCOURT

In fulfillment of its promise to honour the memory of Nigeria's first female combat helicopter pilot for her invaluable contributions to the fight against armed banditry and other criminal activities in the Country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 22 September 2020, immortalized late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile. The newly renovated and remodeled Pilots’ Crew ‘Room’ at the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG) Port Harcourt was named after the late officer who died on 14 July 2020 at the age of 24. The Pilots’ Crew Room houses an Operations briefing room, computer room/library, pilots’ life-support room and lounge as well as a kitchen, dining room, changing room for pilots on standby and several rest rooms. The facility was provided to ensure a conducive environment which would enable pilots to more effectively plan and execute assigned missions.
Speaking during the ceremony, which also featured the commissioning of a newly constructed Block of 18 x two-bedroom flats for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) as well as a water project, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that immortalizing late Flying Officer Arotile was done, not only to honour her memory but also to further inspire young girls in Nigeria to study, work hard and pursue their dreams and legitimate aspirations with pride and honour. “It is gratifying to note that, since late Tolulope’s demise, many young Nigerian girls have indicated their interest to join the NAF. Besides, no fewer than 12 other female officers, who have undoubtedly been motivated by her inspirational life and the unprecedented and exemplary contributions by other female and male pilots, are currently undergoing flying training, both within and outside the Country, to become NAF pilots”, the CAS said.

Air Marshal Abubakar noted that immortalizing late Flying Officer Arotile also addressed another area of the NAF’s policy thrust which is the commitment to assure personnel that their sacrifices would never be in vain. According to him, the policy has been sustained through the immortalization of personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the Nation. “The objective has always been to acknowledge their contributions towards securing our Country, while making sure that they and their sacrifices remain forever fresh in our minds and indeed in the minds of Nigerians”, he added. The CAS, who expressed excitement to see some of her colleagues who were at the commissioning to celebrate her memory, noted that late Flying Officer Arotile lives on in the hearts of those coming after her. He encouraged more young girls to aspire for career opportunities in the NAF as he said “there is no limit to what they can achieve”.

While expressing his happiness with the performance of the Commander as well as officers and men of the Unit, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that 115 SOG had continued to play a significant role in the NAF’s efforts at tackling insecurity in different parts of the Country. He noted that pilots, engineers, technicians and other support staff of the Group, deployed along with their helicopter gunships, had continued to contribute their quota towards winning the fight against insurgents in the North East as well as against bandits and other criminals in the North West and North Central. The 115 SOG, he said, had also continued to play a key role in dealing with illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the South South, working in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies.

The CAS recalled that, over the years, 115 SOG had built in-house capacity and shown its capability in the conduct of the first-ever life extension maintenance on 2 x Mi 35P helicopters. Similarly, he said, the Unit, working with technical partners, was able to reactivate 3 x EC-135 helicopters locally. While charging the aircrew and other personnel in Port Harcourt to continue working harder to deal decisively with the enemies of the Nation, the CAS urged them to utilize the new facilities and other welfare projects with a high sense of responsibility.

Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his profound gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to the NAF towards the achievement of its desired Air Power goals. He noted that the President’s overwhelming support to the Service was a testament to the fact that the whole Nation stands by the NAF in the fight against all enemies of the Country. “We therefore pledge to remain resolute in the conduct of our operations until peace is restored to every troubled part of the Country”, he said.

In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC), Air Vice Marshal Olusegun Philip, noted that the CAS had proved beyond doubt that the welfare of NAF personnel was his topmost priority, as evidenced by his commitment to the provision of infrastructure for their comfort and optimum performance. While thanking the CAS for his constant support, the AOC reassured him of the firm resolve and dedication of personnel to the fight against terrorism, banditry and illegal oil bunkering. “I promise you that we will continue to give you the desired results in all our present and future operations”, the AOC said.

Also present at the ceremony were Branch Chiefs and Directors from the NAF Headquarters as well as the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and other senior military officers. One of the key feature of the event was the presence of some NAF’s female pilots, including Flight Lieutenant Blessing Liman, the first female to be winged as a pilot in the NAF, as well as Flying Officers Genevieve Nwaogwugwu, Olubunmi Ijelu, Kafayat Sanni, first fixed-wing fighter pilot in the NAF, and Chinelo Nwokoye, NAF’s second-ever combat helicopter pilot.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
22 September 2020

https://www.facebook.com/hqnigerianairforce/posts/2706280266251574
lalasticlala

NAF or Nothing

Let's fear God/Allah in all we do. RIP Tolulope Arotile

NAF or nothing.....Death is just so wicked, I was on plans to wife her bfr death came calling

I'll always miss you sweetheart

NAF Rocks

greatresearcher are you an Air Force?

heendrix:
NAF or nothing

You can yell that again. We rock!

Nah eh! No qualms
This is so sophisticated

Keep resting, young legend

Sammy07:
greatresearcher are you an Air Force?

I'm with her.

Beautiful concept..Nice work Greatreseacher.

Wow!


This CAS seems to be the best by far!

The Nigeria Airforce has witnessed rebranding, equipment, capital installations and personnel training under this man more than under any other CAS.

If we can sustain this tempo and genuine improvement of the Airforce, then Nigeria can be a strategic power in the Sub Saharan Africa.

Nice of them to do this, sad the girl's life was cut short when she just started making history.
May we not be found wanting or dead when our glory arrive.

Still your favorite fabricator guy.

Enudapan:
Nah eh! No qualms
This is so sophisticated

Keep resting, young legend

What is "legend" about her or the news?

Most Nigerians have penchant for misusing words by default.

Well deserved

She's worth it

Rest in peace namesake

After they kill that young legend abi? Nonsense

CS Abubarkar has been one of the best CAS in Nigeria, doing lots of projects for the NAF

Pls why is cas wearing red barret?

GreatResearcher:

Good one may her soul rest in peace and quiet

Whao! Nice the NAF immortalized this late gallant young lady but there is a growing trend of Nigeria losing the best of our military to circumstances that ought not to.

Hmm

very good.Dey still beta by far.If to say nah Buratai now,he won’t remember d young lady.Dey should hang the man dat killed her

Great!!!

I hope this stands the test of time

With all amount of seriousness and disappointment, I wish guardiola is not given a new contract until the end of the season IF he wins the premier league and/or champions league...... I feel that guardiola has become complacent at the job and he is taking everything for granted such that the whole team becomes.............
If he is tired of coaching mancity, he should please resigned for others who are prepared to...
It is totally unforgivable and insanely criminal for a transfer window to come this far without mancity signing any key players who will make a difference......... First of all Ake and ferran Torres are squard players who have no ability now to defend their position in mancity....... Torres is under age and inconsistent while Ake is an unproven average player who carried his team to relegation .
In the last 2 years mancity best players are retiring or getting old and yet no replacement for them......
Only Yaya Toure was ably replaced by debryune who was bought by Pellegrini.
Other players such as Company, Silva, aguero, Fernandinho, sane, have not been replaced........ Infact guardiola signings since he came to mancity has been extremely poor.... Almost all the key players at mancity now (Sterling, debryune, Fernandinho, aguero,) were either sign by Mancini or Pellegrini..... The only good guardiola sign are bernado Silva, Laporte, aEderson and maybe walker for over 400 million ....... In a million years, this team as it is cannot win champions league and guardiola knows this but he is proving stubborn. ..... Up till now mancity does not have a left back and a proven striker to help Aguero, the central defence is a mess. Every year city has fallen behind Liverpool.
Liverpool problem last season was a supporting striker and a creative midfielder and they got them both, making Liverpool the strongest team in the world right now.
It is so annoying still seeing people like stone, otamendi, Mendy, cancelo, zichenko, Ake, Jesus, and gundogan still playing for mancity, how can you win champions league with this people?
If mancity finished third on the table this season with this same squard then guardiola is really working magic.
In terms of finances and global vision of city group, Liverpool should be too small to be competing with mancity for quality players BUT guardiola stubbornness has open door for everyone to start competing with city..,...even ordinary Lyon dey shake city.
Guardiola is a good coach with an all conquering tactics and philosophy BUT he is the worst buyer in the world.

j

it is only in insane county people plant all this, just to get rid of someone just because you are overshadowing them.
just imagine that army man smiling........

all I know this will never and can never bring her back

May her soul keep on resting in peace

Incase you don't know na me talk