Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja has commiserated with the family of late retired Maj.-Gen. Aderonke Kale. She was the first female major general in the Nigerian Army.

Ms Kale passed away on Wednesday in London.

A statement by army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said on Saturday.

Mr Lagbaja described the demise of Kale as a great loss to the Nigerian army, describing her as a shining veteran who exuded unequalled commitment, diligence and unquestionable loyalty to the army and the nation.

According to Mr Lagbaja, these qualities paved the way as she steadily rose through the ranks to become the first female officer of the Nigerian army to become a major general.

He added that her legacies in her selfless service to Nigeria and humanity would remain indelible in the hearts of many.

Mr Lagbaja stated, “Late Gen. Kale, renowned for reshaping the face of women and gender mainstreaming in the Nigerian military, was born into a family of professionals. Her father was a pharmacist, and her mother a teacher.

“The late general had her primary education in Lagos and Zaria and her post-primary education in St. Anne’s School, Ibadan and Abeokuta Grammar School, respectively.”

He said Ms Kale opted to study medicine and gained admission into the University College, which later became the University of Ibadan.

“After her graduation as a medical doctor, she proceeded to the University of London to specialise in psychiatry. General Kale worked briefly in Britain and returned to Nigeria in the year 1971 to join the Nigerian Army in 1972,” the army chief added.

Mr Lagbaja said that her competence as a psychiatrist was recognised in 1973 when she qualified as a consultant psychiatrist and in 1982 she became chief consultant.

He recalled that during her service from 1980 to 1985, her management acumen came to bear in her career when she became the commanding officer of the Military Hospital Ibadan.

Mr Lagbaja said, “She thus had the distinction of being the first woman to command a military hospital in Nigeria. From 1985 to 1987, she performed the same feat in the Military Hospital, Enugu, and from 1989 to 1990 in the Military Hospital, Benin.

“With such vital experience, she was elevated to the position of deputy commandant, Nigerian Army Medical Corps and School in 1991 till 1994.”

According to him, in 1994, she became the first female officer to be promoted to major general in the Nigerian Army and the West African sub-region.

She finally attained the “peak” of her career when she became the medical corps commander, the “first time in the history of the Nigerian Army that a female officer was entrusted with the crucial responsibility of health care for all Nigerian Army personnel and their families.” 

(NAN)