Inducted 2023
Ugwome Stella
- Name
- Ugwome Stella
- State of Origin
- Kogi
- Zone
- North Central
- Sector of Achievement
- Aviation & Aerospace
- Profession
- Air traffic controller, Nigeria air force.
- Year of Induction
- 2023
- Posthumous
- No
Landmark Achievement
Breaking the gender barrier in NAF Air Traffic Control
Reasons for Induction
High
Biography
Flying Officer Stella Ugwome* 🇳🇬✈️ *Name*: Flying Officer Stella Ugwome *Service*: Nigerian Air Force, NAF *Rank*: Flying Officer – a junior commissioned officer rank, equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Army/Navy. *Profession*: *Air Traffic Controller, ATC* She is officially recognized as the * *2. Role & Responsibilities* As an ATC in the NAF, her job is in NAF airfields/bases. Key duties include: 1. *Radar & Radio Control*: Monitoring aircraft on radar, giving pilots instructions for takeoff, landing, approach, and en-route separation. 2. *Flight Safety*: Managing airspace to prevent aircraft collisions during military operations/training. 3. *Coordination*: Working with pilots, engineers, and other air units to keep NAF operations safe and orderly. ATC is rated one of the most stressful jobs globally because decisions are split-second and high-stakes. *3. Special Achievement / Significance* Her commissioning marked a *gender milestone for NAF*. Before her, the ATC branch was male-only. She became part of a wider NAF shift toward inclusion in technical + operational fields. In the last 4-5 years NAF has also winged its first female fighter pilots, absorbed first female military school graduates, and placed more women in engineering and Regiment roles. Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar has described these moves as “a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to empowering young women and ensuring equal opportunities”.