The Lagos Regional Manager of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Bukola Teriba, has called on women in the aviation sector to leverage the federal government’s policies to reach new heights in their careers.
Teriba made the call after being honored with “The Woman of the Day” award by Women in Aviation International (WAI) at its 2025 award night in Lagos.
She credited the administration of President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment that has seen a surge in women occupying key managerial positions across various agencies under the federal ministry of aviation.
“President Tinubu’s government has given women more leadership opportunities in the aviation sector. Women are taking up leadership positions, and it is something we must encourage. We must continue to showcase our capabilities and not disappoint.
“The government is empowering women in all fields. We have shown that what men can do, women are doing better, as you can see with the many performances of our women holding various positions in the industry,” she said.
Speaking on the mission of WAI, Teriba described the organisation as more than an association, calling it a “movement” dedicated to advancing women across all facets of aviation.
“Our mission is daring and deliberate, to empower women and men in Nigeria to achieve possibilities they once thought unimaginable,” she said, adding that the group exists to mentor, empower, and inspire members to aspire to the “commanding heights of aviation.”
She urged women to seize available opportunities, delivering a powerful message to aspiring young girls: “To every young girl looking at the skies and wondering if there is a place for her, we are the answer. The sky is not our limit, it is our runway,” she said.
The event’s guest speaker and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, addressed the critical need for work-life balance among professional women in the demanding aviation sector.
Speaking on the theme ‘Work-Life Balance for Professional Women in Aviation,’ Udoh described it not as a luxury but a necessity. He highlighted the immense pressure of 24/7 operations, shift work, and high-stakes decision-making that aviation professionals face.
“Too often, we are praised for ‘doing it all,’ but rarely supported in doing it well and healthily,” Udoh stated. He warned that a fatigued, burnt-out professional is a risk to the entire aviation system.
He challenged industry leaders to view supporting work-life balance as an “investment in retention, safety, diversity, and long-term industry growth” rather than a favour.
The National President of Women in Aviation International Nigeria, Rejoice Ndudinachi, reflected on the organisation’s journey, affirming that its vision for a more inclusive industry has firmly taken root.
She described WAI as a movement born from the belief that women belong in every part of the aviation ecosystem, from the cockpit to the control tower and from engineering to leadership.
“While today is a celebration of our past and present, it is also a call to the future.We must continue to prepare, empower, and position ourselves not only to participate but to lead. We must keep inspiring the next generation of girls to look up at the sky and see opportunity, not limitation” she said.
