Nothing is too big for a woman to achieve, Blessing Lima says •Nigerian, who is first West African female combatant pilot

Many Nigerian women see military profession as a no go area. Amazingly, this is not so for young, beautiful and witty Blessing Liman.
Recently, Liman attained the historical height as the first female military pilot in the whole of West Africa.
Liman, an indigene of Zangom Katat Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was born 29 years ago, precisely on March 13, 1984.

She attended Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), formerly known as Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Zaira, Kaduna State, the SP-24A set, where she earned the nick name “Knight of the air.”
Liman was commissioned as a Combat Flying Officer alongside 126 others who finished the Direct Short Service Course 2010/2011 Cadets of the 325 Ground Training Group at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna.
The former Chief of Air Staff, Air vice Marshal Mohammad Dikko Umar, who was present at the winging ceremony (badge decoration) described her training as a “very laudable achievement.”
Following President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive that Nigerian Airforce must produce a female pilot within one year, fortunately Liman proved herself to be up to the task.
Speaking on her achievement, Liman said, “It is very uplifting and I feel very proud of myself though it has been very challenging.
“Coming from the civil war and the civil mentality, the Air Force has done a great job because it has changed our orientation. I believe that all females have equal opportunity to dignify their rights in whatever adventure they choose.
“I am going to work, with prayers and dedication. I know I will succeed.
“As the first female pilot, I would want to make a mark that would encourage other females to join the military because I believe that all females have equal opportunity to exercise their rights in whatever they choose to do. I believe that all female Nigerians who choose to become pilots can do it since I have done it.”
Before she graduated last year as a pilot, she and other pilot officers had gone for a 12-month intensive flight training in various nations of the world, the United States, Greece, Belarus, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Egypt, an investment which saw the Federal Government spending $650,000 on each of the trainees.
Eventually, the trainings produced 14 well-trained fighter jet pilots, among whom is Liman. After her commissioning as the first female combatant military pilot among 126 Direct Short Service Course 20/2011 of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Liman said she was ready to reciprocate the confidence reposed in her by the nation and President Jonathan.
To see a lady achieving such feat in the midst of so many men is truly inspiring. Her achievement goes a long way to show that nothing is impossible with determination and hard work.
It has been posited that Liman might have gone through her training as the only female in the group, and could have fallen short of expectation, but she didn’t. Surely, what she achieved is a great inspiration for a lot of ladies today.
Now, she serves as a role model to any other female who may wish to follow her path.
The World Bank statistics might have rated the northern Nigeria where Liman comes from very low in literacy level, yet, Liman never allowed this to either limit or discourage her. Today, as a result of her zeal and determination, from this same northern region, the first Nigerian female combatant pilot has emerged.