In a field traditionally dominated by men, Captain Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has achieved remarkable success.
She is Nigeria’s first female Boeing 787 pilot, flying long-distance routes for Qatar Airways. Her story shows that with hard work, focus, and the right support, anyone can achieve great things, regardless of gender.
Around the world, women are stepping into roles that were once considered “for men only.” Aviation, too, is undergoing this shift, and Captain Adeola is a shining example of how women can succeed in male-dominated spaces.
At just 31 years old, Captain Adeola is making history. She is the first Nigerian woman to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Qatar Airways.
This advanced airplane can reach speeds of Mach 0.85, or about 1,024 kilometers per hour. Adeola pilots this impressive machine, safely flying 250 passengers across the world.
Her path to becoming a Dreamliner pilot wasn’t easy. Adeola’s story is one of determination, strength, and a love for flying.
Adeola was born on October 16, 1990, in Kaduna, Nigeria. She went to several schools in both Kaduna and Ibadan due to challenges like religious conflicts.
Despite these difficulties, Adeola remained focused and completed her secondary education at First Baptist Model High School in Kaduna in 2007.
After completing secondary school, she started a pre-degree course at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo State.
But her passion for flying took over, and she enrolled at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria. She completed her aviation training from 2009 to 2010 before going to Florida, USA, for further training at Sunrise Aviation Inc.
Once her pilot training was done, Adeola returned to Nigeria to start her flying career.
In 2013, Adeola began working for Medview Airlines in Lagos as a First Officer on Boeing 737 planes.
Her skills quickly earned her a promotion to fly the Boeing 767-300ER. But her biggest breakthrough came in 2018 when she joined Qatar Airways as the first Nigerian woman to pilot the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Her skills have taken her on transatlantic flights with the Boeing 767, and in 2020, she started flying the Lagos-to-Abuja route for Qatar Airways. Adeola now joins a group of pioneering African female pilots like Chinyere Kalu, Nigeria’s first female commercial pilot, and Asli Hassan Abade, Somalia’s first female aviator.
Captain Adeola is not just a successful pilot; she’s also a wife and mother. She married Seun Funmi Olamilekan Sowemimo on April 22, 2017, and together they have a family. Managing her career and home life is no easy task, but Adeola has shown that it is possible to do both.
Captain Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo is more than just a pilot. She represents hope, determination, and the idea that women can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. Her story is a source of inspiration for young African girls, showing them that with effort, they too can reach their dreams.
Adeola’s journey is a reminder that hard work and perseverance can help break barriers, no matter how high.
She is proof that nothing is impossible, and her story will continue to inspire many for years to come. (Vanguard)
