Kafayat Sanni, a flight lieutenant and Nigeria’s first female fighter pilot, has clinched a top award at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra.
Sanni was named the Best Allied Student. She also received the Best Assistant Commandant Paper award, distinguishing herself among military officers from across Africa.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The awards were presented on Friday during the GAFCSC graduation ceremony, which was attended by top-ranking military officials and dignitaries from across Africa.
Gabkwet noted that Sanni first gained national and international recognition in 2019 when she made history as the Nigerian Air Force’s first-ever female fighter pilot, following her completion of pilot training in the United States.
“Since then, she has flown the Alpha Jet and undertaken training sorties on the Super Mushshak as a prolific instructor pilot, producing and mentoring younger pilots for the NAF,” he said.
“Her outstanding performance at GAFCSC not only symbolizes personal excellence and resilience but also underscores Nigeria’s growing leadership in regional defence and commitment to gender inclusion in the armed forces.
“This remarkable achievement further reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s strategic investment in human capital development under the visionary leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar,” he added.
Sanni’s latest accomplishment is widely seen as a testament to the changing narrative around gender roles in the military and the growing influence of Nigerian personnel in regional defence circles.
