Blessing Liman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 March 1984 Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Branch | Nigerian Air Force |
| Years of service | 2011-present |
| Rank | Military pilot |
| Alma mater | Nigerian College of Aviation Technology |
Blessing Liman (born 13 March 1984), is a Nigerian member of the Nigerian Air Force best known for being Nigeria's first female military pilot. [1] [2]
Blessing Liman was born on 13 March 1984 in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. Liman is a descent of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Blessing Liman was an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, she enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force in July 2011 and was commissioned on 9 December 2011. [3] On 27 April 2012, she made history by becoming Nigeria's first female combat pilot following the badge decoration ceremony of thirty flying officers by Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar. [4] [5]
She then said she was ready "to honor the trust that the nation has placed in [her]". Blessing Liman told the Weekly Trust [6] that "women in the Air Force must be given opportunities because they have the potential to becom excellent pilots".
At 39, she was hailed as the first female captain of the presidential air fleet. In 2023, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo congratulated her on International Women's Day [7] . For Blessing Liman, this achievement represents the fulfillment of a dream she has had since childhood, a way for her today to speak out on behalf of Nigerian women, whom she is keen to encourage to join the army , convinced taht women are just as capable as men of performing the same duties, espacially when they have received similar training. Surrounded by 125 male cadets during her training, she acknowledges the challenges she faced, but insists that "all women have the same opportunities to assert their rights in whatever adventure they choose."
Her inspiring journey earned her an interview with Nigerian lifestyle media outlet Glazia as part of Black History Month [8] 2021, giving her the opportunity to discuss the difficult period following the Civil War, marked by prejudice and the sociak roles assigned to women. However, she highlights the evolution of the Nigerian Air Force, which has worked to change attitudes by opening it doors to women and promoting greater equality and modernity.