Federal Gov’t Policies Empowering Women In Aviation Sector – NCAA Regional Manager

The Lagos Regional Manager of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Barrister Bukola Teriba, has urged women in the aviation industry to take advantage of the federal government’s favourable policy toward women in the sector to aim higher in their careers.

Teriba affirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has created an environment that enables Nigerian women to showcase their capabilities and professionalism, as many now occupy various managerial positions across different agencies under the Ministry of Aviation.

The NCAA Lagos RM spoke after receiving “The Woman of the Day” award from the Women in Aviation (WAI) at the 2025 award night in Lagos

“President Tinubu’s government has given women more leadership opportunities in the aviation sector. Women are taking up leadership positions in the sector, and we must encourage this and continue to showcase our capabilities as women. We must not disappoint.”

She added that “The government is empowering women in all fields. Women are not left behind in the industry; 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.”

Speaking of the mission of WAI, Mrs Teriba affirmed that “Women in Aviation International is not simply an organisation, it is a movement of momentum. A force that advances women across every career, every field, every layer of this great industry.

“A platform that does not merely applaud accomplishments, it multiplies them, we exist to encourage, to mentor, to empower and to inspire our members to aspire to the commanding heights of aviation.”

“Our mission is daring and deliberate to empower women and men in Nigeria to achieve possibilities they once thought unimaginable, through technology, leadership, and economic transformation.”

According to her, “aviation itself teaches us something profound: no aircraft defies gravity alone. It rises because of alignment, precision, discipline, and trust, and that is who we are.

We do not exclude, we elevate, we do not wait for opportunity — we engineer it, we connect, we engage, we inspire.

While urging women seize opportunities in the sector, she affirmed that “when women rise together with purpose and preparation, the industry does more than grow, it evolves” adding that “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.”

Guest speaker at the event and former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Nnamdi Udoh challenged women in the sector to adopt a balanced work life.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Work-Life Balance for Professional Women in Aviation’, the NAMA boss elsewhere said, “Aviation is not just a career. It is a calling. It demands precision, discipline, resilience, and sacrifice, and says that something as critical to safety and sustainability as regulations and procedures is a well-thought-out work–life balance.

According to him, “For professional women in aviation, work–life balance is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Women who keep the aviation industry flying, women who manage aircraft, airports, air traffic, safety systems, policies, finances, crews, and operations, often work under immense pressure and unforgiving timelines.

He said, “Our industry operates 24 hours a day, across time zones, weekends, holidays, and emergencies. Many of us juggle shift work, irregular schedules, long duty hours, constant recertification, and high-stakes decision-making, while also carrying responsibilities at home, in our communities, and within ourselves.

Too often, we are praised for “doing it all,” but rarely supported in doing it well and healthily. Work–life balance does not mean working less or caring less about our profession. It means working smarter, setting boundaries, and recognising that a fatigued, burnt-out professional is a risk—not only to herself, but to the entire aviation system.”

Udoh said, “As women in aviation, we must advocate not only for safety in the air, but for sustainability on the ground. We must mentor younger women to pursue success without burnout. We must challenge workplace cultures that glorify overwork and instead promote performance with purpose.”

Speaking further, the one-time NAMA MD said, “To organisations and leaders: supporting work life balance is not a favour to women, it is an investment in retention, safety, diversity, and long-term industry growth.”

On her part, the national president, Women in Aviation International Nigeria, Rejoice Ndudinachi affirmed that the WAI idea and vision for the country’s women has taken root.

She said the vision has been championed with courage as the group determined that the industry’s skies could be more inclusive, more diverse, and more representative of women’s talent.

She explained that “From the beginning, Women in Aviation was born not merely as an association, but as a movement. A movement driven by purpose, resilience, and the unshakable belief that women belong in every part of the aviation ecosystem: from the cockpit to the control tower, from engineering to leadership, from policy-making to innovation.”

She added that “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.”

According to her, “Today is not just another gathering. Today is a milestone, a moment to pause, look back, and truly appreciate how far we have come. And how meaningful that we are celebrating it here.”

The WAI Nigeria National President said, “This milestone is also about legacy. It’s about the women who paved the way before us, like Capt Chinyere Kalu, and the young girls watching us now, girls who will see aviation not as a barrier, but as a possibility.

Every one of us matters. Every conversation, every act of encouragement, every time we choose collaboration over competition – we are shaping the future of this organisation.”