Captain Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide’s decision to pivot from being a type-rated engineer on Boeing 737 Classics to a commercial airline pilot began not as a childhood dream but with motivation from her mother.
In her words, “If you can fix them, why not fly them?”
This change in perspective prompted her to switch to piloting. And, after completing her training in the United States, then-First Officer Rotimi-Olajide in 2021 became the first female pilot to fly the Embraer E195 E2 aircraft in Africa.
This achievement, she says, was a game changer for her, shaping her career in several ways. She received a prestigious accolade at the Women in Aviation Awards later that year, which catapulted her into ‘star’ pilot status.
“This award has accelerated my credibility and influence in the industry, improved my work profile, and maximized my career potential,” she tells Runway Girl Network.
In November 2023, she was decorated as a Captain on the E195, another first for a female pilot in Africa. She works at private Nigerian operator Air Peace.
Still, just like many other women in the aviation industry, Captain Rotimi-Olajide admits, “Balancing work life and family can be challenging, especially when you have young children, but having reinforcements does go a long way to make things manageable.”
Her husband, a helicopter engineer, and her mother are her reinforcements. They fill in when needed, so her children are always catered to.
She also makes up for her absences by switching to ‘house mode’ and spending time with her little ones when her schedule is less busy.
From dealing with an inflight engine failure — every pilot’s nightmare — and challenging weather conditions to managing difficult people, Captain Ibironke has faced many tough calls that have really tested her. In these situations, her fight-or-flight mode kicks in.
Seeing obstacles as “elevating opportunities,” she underscores the importance of rigorous training and following Standard Operating Procedures. And she does not let the opinions of others define who she is and what she does.
In a testament to her excellent work ethic and performance, her colleague at Air Peace, E195 E2 Engineer Bright Ubelih Uguofinite cites her drive, hard work and passion for the industry.
Being Africa’s first female Embraer 195‐E2 Captain is a very impressive achievement. What does this milestone mean to Captain Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide and future female aviators?
“To me, it signals a powerful shift in aviation and shows what is possible when talents, perseverance, and opportunities align,” she says. And, in an industry where women are the minority, Captain Ibironke sees her achievement as opening the door for other women to consider aviation careers.
She hopes to motivate them to pursue their careers in the industry despite the challenges and barriers they might face, and to shift their mindset — as the Biblical verse suggests — “from an insurmountable mountain to a mustard seed.”
There is a need for more role models for young women aspiring to be aviators, especially in piloting and engineering.
When asked about the pilot shortage in Nigeria, Captain Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide, who has now spent a decade in aviation, says: “We are losing pilots in Nigeria to other parts of the world, but if airlines can enhance pilot welfare and training, we would have sufficient pilots in Nigeria.”
She encourages industry to invest in pilots who haven’t yet been type rated in order to combat the pilot shortage that is gradually creeping into the aviation industry in Nigeria.
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All images from Captain Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide’s private collection.
