12 things to know about late Aderonke Kale, Nigeria’s first female Army General

The Nigerian military was recently thrown into mourning with the death of Aderonke Kale, the first female Major General in the Nigerian Army.

Kale who passed away last Wednesday in London was also the first woman to attain the rank of Major General in the West African sub-region.

In a condolence message to her family, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja paid glowing tribute to the deceased female military officer, who according to him, was a shining veteran who exuded unequalled commitment, diligence and unquestionable loyalty to the army and the nation.

Lagbaja said the qualities paved the way for her steady rise through the ranks to become the first female officer of the Nigerian army to attain the enviable height of Major General.

“Late Gen. Kale, renowned for reshaping the face of women and gender mainstreaming in the Nigerian military,” Lagbaja said.

Here are 12 things to be known about the female trailblazer in the Nigerian Army

1. She was born into a family of professionals – her father was a pharmacist, and her mother a teacher.

2. Late General Kale had her primary education in Lagos and Zaria, and her post-primary education in St. Anne’s School, Ibadan and Abeokuta Grammar School.

3. She studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

4. After her graduation as a medical doctor, she proceeded to the University of London to specialize in Psychiatry.

5. General Kale worked briefly in Britain and returned to Nigeria in the year 1971 to join the Nigerian Army in 1972.

6. She qualified as a Consultant Psychiatrist in 1973 and in 1982, she became the Chief Consultant.

7. She was the Commanding Officer of the Military Hospital Ibadan from 1983 to 1985, thus having the distinction of being the first woman to command a military hospital in Nigeria.

8. From 1985 to 1987, she performed the same feat in the Military Hospital, Enugu, and from 1989 to 1990 in the Military Hospital, Benin.

9. She was elevated to the position of Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps and School in 1991 till 1994

10. In 1994, she became the first female officer to be promoted to the rank of Major General in the Nigerian Army and the West African sub-region.

12. She attained the peak of her career when she became the Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, thus becoming the first female officer to be entrusted with the crucial responsibility of health care for all Nigerian Army personnel and their families.