Captain Josephine Okwuekeleke Tolefe (born December 15, 1931, in Aniocha, Delta State, Nigeria) was the first female commissioned officer in the Nigerian Army. She was the first female military officer and the first female to attain the rank of an Army Captain in Nigeria.[1][2]
Captain Josephine Okwuekeleke Tolefe | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1931 |
| Died | 2014 (Aged 83) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | Midwives Training College, High Coombe Surrey, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Former Nigerian Military Officer |
| Years active | 1961–1967 |
Personal life and educational background
editTolefe was born on 15 December 1931 in Ogwashi-Ukwu, the southern part of Aniocha in Delta State, Nigeria.[3] She attended Midwives Training College, High Coombe Surrey, United Kingdom to study Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse under the General Nursing Council for England and Wales in August, 1956.[4]
Career
editTolefe was a professional nurse but she decided to join the Nigerian Army because she was impressed by the look of the women in the British Army and the way they defended their country.[5] After joining the Army, she was appointed as Second Lieutenant in 1961. Two years after, she was appointed Army Captain.
Although Tolefe was celebrated, she and her female colleagues faced many challenges as regards to their gender. She retired voluntarily from service on 5 February 1967 and died in 2014.[6]
References
edit- ^ "First Women: Josephine Okwuekeleke Tolefe Is The First Woman To Become An Army Captain In Nigeria". Woman.NG. 2018-06-21. Archived from the original on 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Vanguard News". Meet the first female army officer in Nigeria. 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2020-05-02.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Osuyi, Paul (2011-12-12). "Nigeria's first female Army Captain:I carry military discipline in my blood". Africa Defense Journal. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Global Sentinel". Global Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-05-02.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Meet the first female army officer in Nigeria". Vanguard News. 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Nigeria's first female commissioned officer is dead". Facebook. Retrieved 2020-05-02.