Young girls across Lagos were challenged to soar beyond conventional boundaries and embrace careers in the aviation industry, during the 2025 Annual Girls in Aviation Day.
The event, hosted by the Glowing Wings Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI), was held under the inspiring theme, ‘Breaking limits-Journeying into Aviation’.
In a keynote address, the President of the WAI Glowing Wings Chapter, Mrs. Evelyn Njoku, encouraged the attendees to see the sky not as a limit, but as a starting point.
“I am here today, not just as a president, but as somebody who was once like you, a courageous girl with dreams, who grew up to become a woman in aviation,” Mrs. Njoku began, establishing a personal connection with the aspiring aviators.
She emphasized that the aviation sector is a vast industry with a place for every dream.
The Glowing Wings President, highlighted the diverse career paths available, moving beyond the cockpit to include roles such as aircraft engineers, air traffic controllers, public affairs leaders, ICT experts, and safety engineers.
She assured the girls that every one of their dreams has a place within the dynamic world of aviation.
“Now is your time to rise without fears,” she declared, urging the participants to cultivate a mindset of leadership, focus, hard work, and consistent learning.
“The ticket to success is yours for the taking.”
Mrs. Njoku affirmed the commitment of Women in Aviation International and the Glowing Wings chapter to serve as a support system, offering guidance and mentorship to the next generation.
The story of Miss Chetachukwu Linda, a young cabin crew member with United Nigeria Airlines, captured the spirit of the occasion.
Miss Linda recalled how her journey into aviation began in an unlikely way during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
Despite being told that the airline did not accept corps members, she refused to give up.
Determined to chart her own path, she took the challenge head-on at orientation camp, volunteering for leadership roles to gain visibility and influence over her posting.
Though her soft-spoken voice limited her appointment to sub-commandant rather than commandant, she leveraged the position to secure a place with United Nigeria Airlines as a corps member, an opportunity that became the gateway to her aviation career.
The event featured an engaging career talk session where female pilots, air traffic controllers, trainers, and other professionals shared their journeys into the aviation industry. They recounted their childhood dreams, the challenges they overcame, and the determination that brought them to their current roles.
Their stories struck a chord with more than 100 female students from Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja; Abesan Senior High School, Ipaja; and Queen’s College, Yaba.
Many of the students pledged to give their best in pursuing their future careers during an interactive question-and-answer session with the panelists.
The programme ended with an educational tour of airport facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, giving participants firsthand exposure to aviation operations.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen