At just 31 years old, Captain Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has made history as the first Nigerian woman to pilot the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Qatar Airways. Her journey in a male-dominated field is a testament to her hard work, determination, and passion.
Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, Adeola faced numerous challenges, including religious conflicts that forced her family to relocate multiple times. Despite these obstacles, she remained focused and completed her secondary education at First Baptist Model High School in Kaduna in 2007.
Initially exploring a pre-degree course at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Adeola's passion for flying soon took over. She enrolled at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, completing her training from 2009 to 2010. She then traveled to Florida, USA, for further training at Sunrise Aviation Inc., before returning to Nigeria to start her flying career.
In 2013, Adeola joined Medview Airlines in Lagos as a First Officer on Boeing 737 planes and quickly advanced to flying the Boeing 767-300ER. Her major breakthrough came in 2018 when she joined Qatar Airways, becoming the first Nigerian woman to pilot the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Adeola's expertise has taken her on transatlantic flights with the Boeing 767, and in 2020, she began flying the Lagos-to-Abuja route for Qatar Airways. She joins the ranks of pioneering African female pilots, such as Chinyere Kalu, Nigeria's first female commercial pilot, and Asli Hassan Abade, Somalia's first female aviator.
Beyond her professional achievements, Captain Adeola is also a dedicated wife and mother. She married Seun Funmi Olamilekan Sowemimo on April 22, 2017, and they have built a family together. Balancing her career and home life, Adeola has shown that it is possible to excel in both careers and family.
Captain Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo's story is an inspiration for young African girls, demonstrating that with effort and determination, they too can achieve their dreams.
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