Owowoh: First Female Graduate of Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

Second Lt. Oluchukwu Owowoh, 23, has become the first Nigerian female cadet  to graduate from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK.

Maj.-Gen. John Ochia, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, said this while presenting Owowoh to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Monday.

“Your story is that of aspiration, resilience, and determination, really, your case is divine,” Tinubu said.

She also commended the  Nigeria Army for giving a female the chance to excel, and recommended Owowoh for an award.

According to Ochai, Owowoh’s outstanding performance becomes more significant considering those she competed with.  India, Pakistan, Qatar, UK, Canada, Australia and others brought their best to be trained in that same institution.

“If she was male, we would have left it at that,” Ochai said. “But because she is a female we tested her and she came first in academics, even in the physical training.”

Her male colleagues had to insist she should no longer go further in the exerting training.

Owowoh faced two tests before the army authorities could send her abroad, and she excelled in both, surpassing her over 200 male colleagues.

Ochai said the army feared the embarrassment she would cause Nigeria if she failed to graduate. Which was why she faced the second test

“In that academy, gender is not given preference, even in their accommodation,” the general said. 

“If you fail at any point you will drop, and she came out as the best.”