First Nigerian Female Officer Cadet Graduates from UK’s Royal Military Academy

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Officer Cadet Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu has become the first-ever Nigerian female officer to graduate from the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

The 24-year-old Oluchukwu was one of the 135 Officer Cadets to graduate during RMAS’ Sovereign’s Parade yesterday in London.
According to a statement by the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Abuja, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, the parade marked the completion of 44 weeks of intensive training for the Officer Cadets of Commissioning Course 232.

She noted that at the ceremony, His Majesty King Charles was represented by the head of the French Army, Général d’armée Pierre SchilI, Chief of the Army Staff.
Akande-Alegbe said since the 1950s, several Nigerian officers including former Nigerian President Yakubu Gowan and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye became RMAS alumni. stating that Oluchukwu’s graduation as the first female and 190th Nigerian graduate, marks a significant milestone in UK’s long-standing commitment to supporting Nigeria’s professional military education training, insisting that this commitment to close UK-Nigerian cooperation was affirmed during the recent UK- Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership talks held in February 2024.

The statement read: “In 2018, Princess joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Kaduna State, Nigeria. During her second year at the NDA, she was appointed a Cadet Lance Corporal; a Cadet Sergeant in her fourth year and in her fifth year she was appointed to the role of Company Senior Under Officer Charlie (CSUO C). She held this appointment with two other female counterparts and made history as the first females to assume the position of CSUO in the academy. In her fourth year, she completed the Academics Wing of the commissioning course and achieved first class honours in Biological Sciences.”

Speaking of her achievement, Officer Cadet Oluchukwu said: “It is a profound honour to be the first Nigerian female officer to commission from the esteemed Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This achievement is not mine alone, but a testament to the unwavering support of my family, mentors, instructors, and countless individuals who believed in me every step of the way. As I look ahead to the future, I am committed to representing Nigeria with pride, and to making a positive difference in the world.”

The statement added that: “The UK is proud to celebrate this historic occasion with Nigeria and congratulates newly Commissioned Officer Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu on her remarkable achievement.”