‘Adeola has written her name in gold’ — tributes to first African female pilot at Qatar Airways

Adeola Sowemimo, a Nigerian, has become the first female African to work as a pilot for luxury airline, Qatar Airways and fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Sowemimo, from Ogbomoso, Oyo state, took to her Facebook page to share a throwback photo of herself as a student of US-based Sunrise Aviation Academy in 2011.

“Days of little beginning… God be praised #ihavedominion,” the post read.

Announcing the news on Twitter, African Facts Zone wrote: “Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has become the first Nigerian female Pilot to work for Qatar Airways, and also the first to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.”

A wave of positive acknowledgement, praises and congratulatory messages trailed the announcement.

Here are some reactions:

For others, Sowemimo’s accomplishment is an inspiration to both young and old.

Even though the Middle East is home to some of the world’s biggest and most recognisable airlines like Emirates and Etihad, it’s an extremely challenging region for women hoping to get into the cockpit.

Qatar Airways is one of the first in the region to introduce female pilots with women accounting for 44 percent of the airline’s workforce as at 2018, Akbar Al Baker, its chief executive officer told UK’s The Independent.