The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has got its first female Master Warrant Officer (MWO) after approval by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar. Grace Tabawa Garba becomes the first female Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) to be promoted to the highest rank in the Non-Commissioned Officers’ cadre in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to a statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, the SNCO who had put in not less than 33 years of outstanding meritorious service was found worthy to be promoted to the rank of MWO for her exemplary leadership qualities, hard work, as well as contributions to the service over the years.
The statement said the promotion demonstrated the commitment of the current NAF leadership in paying adequate attention to the empowerment of female personnel to realize their full potentials.
It would be recalled that one of the NAF’s female officers was sent to the United States of America for training to become the first female fighter pilot in the history of the NAF. Similarly, for the first time in NAF history, another female pilot is on the verge of completing training to become the first female helicopter pilot in the service.
Born on 14 February, 1966 in Garkida, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, MWO Grace Garba joined the NAF in 1986 as a member of Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 10.
She holds a Certificate in Nursing from School of Nursing, Maiduguri, Certificate in Midwifery from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Kaduna State, Certificate in Public Health Nursing from School of Health Technology, Kaduna and Advanced Diploma in Public Administration at the Federal University of Technology, Yola.
She is currently the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM), Kaduna.
She will be decorated with the new rank on 15 October 2019.