PDTF Breaks Cultural Barrier And Produces Katsina's First Female Pilot

Helicopter pilots are key professionals in the Oil and Gas sector. 

15 pilots were trained in South Africa under the full scholarship programme of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) as internationally certified commercial pilots.These five beautiful ladies are part of the 15......

Ruqayya Suleiman

Ruqayya Suleiman from Bakori Local government area of Katsina State has become the first female pilot from her state and Raqayya's father says her dream of becoming a pilot could not have come true without the scholarship and emotional support from the PTDF. 

Today, a joyful Mr. Suleiman is excited that his young daughter has broken the cultural barrier that often prevent girls from her region from acquiring higher education.

 Angel Odumodu another beneficiary from Port Harcourt said he was shocked when he got the call from the PTDF.  “I wasn't expecting it but now I am a pilot 
and the whole family is excited”.

 Ogoromsi Apiri from Ogbia in Bayelsa State, a beneficiary, said he had always been curious to know how jets and helicopters fly,but his dream of becoming a pilot seemed impossible when his father died But the PTDF came to his rescue with the scholarship.

From Kaduna is 18 year-old Tosin Ajibola, an indigene of Kwara State who is one of the 20 children of his father who married four wives.

He said: “I wanted to be a pilot but I realized it will cost me between N12 to N20M to study abroad. My father who had 20 of us to take care of would not be able to afford the cost, so i decided to let go of the dream”. 

Today, he is grateful to the scheme that has made him Nigeria’s youngest pilot. 

From Zaria in Kaduna State is Jesuleke Elizabeth Babatunde, an indigene of Ondo State who disclosed that she and her husband had searched on-line fruitlessly for such a scholarship until PTDF offered her the lifeline.

The Executive Secretary of PTDF, Femi Ajayi, explained that the aim of the scholarship is to create capacity for the Oil and Gas sector and with the support of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Mudueke, the agency is fulfilling its mission. 

The Executive Secretary Industry collaboration Unit of the PTDF, Barrister Timipre Wolo said before the establishment of the agency, the industry was dominated by expatriates. 

“The country needed to build its indigenous capacity to make sure it filled up the available vacancies.

“Mostly, oil and gas activities in Nigeria are offshore and even those onshore; one has to fly to the locations because of the terrain of the Niger Delta. So helicopters became the major means of transportation,” she said.

With the success achieved with this first batch, Mr. Ajayi, PTDF's Executive Secetary believes that this is a dream come true for the trainees as the agency has given them a rare opportunity to improve their lives.