In a remarkable way of saying thank you for her pioneering efforts in creating a robust evolution of military nursing in the Nigerian Airforce, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar and the entire Airforce family felicitates with Group Captain Theodora Oluyinka Pereira (retd) on the joyous occasion of her 90th birthday.
Group Captain Pereira is celebrated not only for her remarkable service but also for the indelible mark she has left as a dual service veteran — N/258 in the Nigerian Army and NAF/151F in the Nigerian Air Force.
She was the first female Nigeria Airforce officer to be deployed to the war front and the first Chief Nursing Officer of the Service.
It was gathered that her eloquence, sharpness of mind, and youthful spirit at 90 remains as an inspiration to generations of officers, particularly women who aspire to break new ground in service to the nation.
It was learnt that Grp Capt. Pereira joined the Nigerian Army as a Nursing Officer in 1962 and, in the wake of national transformation, was seconded to the Nigerian Air Force in 1966, and became the first female NAF officer to be deployed to the war front and the first Chief Nursing Officer of the Service.
“Her trailblazing journey took her from the wards of Nigerian Army hospitals in Yaba and Kaduna to the operational theatres of the NAF in Makurdi, and later to the prestigious Command and Staff College, Jaji, as the first female officer from the Service to attend its Staff Course.
“Through her professional excellence and courage, she did not only care for the wounded but also helped shape the ethos of medical service in the armed forces.”
She retired in 1984, and has remained a proud elder stateswoman of the profession, deeply appreciative of her fellow female veterans, including Air Commodore HR Garba (Rtd), fondly known as “Aunty Soja.”
“As we celebrate this milestone, the Nigerian Air Force salutes her lifetime of sacrifice, dedication, and leadership, adding that her story will continue to inspire officers, airmen and airwomen to serve with courage, compassion, and commitment to the ideals she embodied.”
In celebrating her indelible career, NAF wish her Happy 90th birthday, reiterating that the legacy she built will remain an enduring beacon for the People’s Air Force.
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