Inspiring story of Aderonke Kale, Nigeria’s first female
Army General. Source: Proudlyyoruba.com
Retro: Inspiring story of Aderonke Kale,
Nigeria’s first female Army General
It is no longer news that some women have learnt and her
perfect at taking up jobs specifically meant for the men.
They do not care about anything they go through as long
as they achieve their goals.
Today, we are taking a look at the first Nigerian woman to
ever become a Major-General (two-star general) in the Army
and in any of the three wings of the Nigerian Armed Forces
which includes the Navy and Air Force. Her name is Major-
General Aderonke Kale.
Despite many years of being out of service, Kale’s record still
remains unbroken it has only been equaled to the
achievement of Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu of the Nigerian
Navy. In 1996 Kale retired from the force.
Retired Kale was reportedly trained as medical practitioner
before she decided to join the Nigerian Army as an officer.
She specialized in psychiatry. According to her, she disclosed
that she was inspired to join psychiatry by the late medical
giant, Professor Thomas Adeoye Lambo. Africa’s first
professor of psychiatry.
As a colonel and medical commandant in the Army, in 1990
Kale attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic
Studies (NIPSS SEC12), Kuru, Plateau state. Upon graduation
from Kuru, she received her graduation certificate in 1990 as
a colonel from general Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who
was the military president. Kale also returned to the Military
Hospital, Benin, Edo state where she resumed duties as the
commanding officer.
From there, she was later moved to Lagos State where she
served as the deputy commandant of the Nigerian Army
Medical Corps , Ojo where she was later promoted to the
rank of a Brigadier General, thus becoming the first woman
in Nigeria to become a one-star general.
In July, 2015 Kale became the first female brigadier-general.
A role which was appointed by the British Army. However, as
the commandant of the corps she reports to the Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) concerning the efficiency and quality of
the medical, dental and nursing services received by
personnel of the Nigerian Army.
Retired Aderonke Kale. Source: PJNaijaExpress
The NAMC has the following units:
- Field Ambulance (Fd Amb)
-Regimental Aid Post (RAP)
-Company Aid Post (CAP)
-Main Dressing Station (MDS)
-Advanced Dressing Station (ADS)
-Field Hospital (Fd Hosp), which makes her role from being a
minor one.
In 1994, she broke the record not only in Nigeria but in West
Africa with her appointment as the first ever female Major
General in the Nigerian Army. Her job was to see to the
psychological problems of the personnel of the Nigerian Army
in addition to other duties related to administration and
management.
RETIREMENT:
Retirement came in 1996 under the general Sani Abacha
regime. Kale reportedly retired honorably and till date, she
remains a mentor to many Nigerian women especially those
in the military. Some analysts have described her retirement
as an ethnic purge by Abacha under the circumstances of an
alleged coup reportedly masterminded by Lt. general Oladipo
Diya of the Yoruba ethnic group as she was retired alongside
a batch that included many others from her geopolitical zone.
Retired Aderonke Kale (right) with a younger colleague.
Source: Pinterest
HONORS:
On February 13, 2012, she was honored at the 17th edition of
THISDAY annual awards for excellence (Lifetime Achievement
Awards). While in the army, she was a close associate of
IBB’s chief of intelligence, Colonel Halilu Akilu.
