Ruth Adeola Adebanwo is the Captain for Ibom Airlines. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on early life, how she dumped her passion to be a medical doctor to being a pilot,, the things that inspire her especially her mother who single handedly raised eight children against many odds.
HOW long have you been in the sector?
It has been a very interesting journey and I would say that being a pilot is a different thing and being a captain is also different. I finished my training as a pilot in 2003 and I learnt so many things on the job.
Where did you train?
I trained in South Africa. Interestingly, what inspired me to train as a pilot started many years back. As a young girl, I just finished my secondary school in Kaduna. I was born there, so I went with me elder brother to see a friend of his that worked at the airport. Initially, as a young girl my dream was to be a medical doctor. When I got to the airport, I got talking with some of the pilots, that was how the inspiration started, I developed the interest and that was it.
Did you have any fears at the beginning?
No, I didn’t have any fears . The training was for two years and at that point, I had made up my mind that this was what I wanted to do. , I started in 2001 and finished in 2003.
Where did you work before IBOM Airlines?
When I came back from my training, I worked first with Julius Berger/Dana in Kaduna. We were seconded there because I was a staff of Dana Air but I was seconded to fly Julius Berger, Aircraft. After that. I worked with Aero contractors for some years before joining Arik. It was from there that I crossed over to IBOM Air. I joined IBOM Air last year and it has been a very interesting experience.
How many years have you been flying and soaring in the skies?
Its been seventeen good years. The good, bad and ugly. Of course, there are days that can be a bit scary especially when you enter some severe weather. Of course, days like that are things that you get once in a while and you are prepared for such.. It is something we go through once in a while and as pilots we don’t usually like raining seasons. Everybody knows that. These are days when you have thunderstorms. Those can be really severe.
Tell us about your husband, is he also a pilot?
No , he is a business man. He likes what I do and he has never complained. He knows that flying is what actually gives me joy. If I have worries or anything bothering me in the home, once I enter the airplane, I am a different person entirely. I just forget everything. It is something that I love doing.
Tell us about your parents. How did they influence your personality?
My parents are separated. I grew up with my mum basically. When I wanted to be a pilot, my mum supported 100 per cent. And when I told her that I wanted to be a pilot, there where people that opposed the idea being a female. There was a day she told someone about it because it entails a lot of money and they tried to discourage her. . You need a lot of money for training and when she was talking about it and the fact that she would need a lot of money, they told her why would you want to spend so much money on a girl, it was like a waste on a female. They told her that if it was any of her sons that wanted to be a pilot, it would be better. She just got upset, told the person off. So like I told you, my parents are divorced and we grew up with my mum. She is a very strong woman, we are eight children and she brought all of us up, all by herself. As a child , she raises your ear to hear, understand the issues. We are also five girls, so she was also telling us all the time that as a girl, you have hands, you have legs, so you don’t have a problem, if you can walk, then you have to work hard. Do not depend on anyone.
This era of corona virus, a lot of people are afraid to travel to places, how do you feel as a captain, and what advise do you have for Nigerians?
Well, the good thing is that we don’t have the problem in Nigeria, the way you have it you have it in other parts of the world. Of course, you have people that come from other countries and then take the local flight. We had a case last week, someone sneezing and coughing and people did not want to sit with him. So, they came to tell me asking. What do we do? So, I said we have to protect everybody and we said he needs to use the mask and stay alone. We had to separate him, then he refused to take the mask. We then told him that it is either he takes it, use it to protect others, not just himself or he comes down from the flight.
Is there anything else that you are passionate about?
I love reading. I am also passionate about helping other people. I love touching lives especially the less privileged people around me. Making other’s happy motivates me in different ways.
What would be the most memorable moment in your life and career?
The day I became a captain. Nothing compares to it.
Tell us about the women you admire?
I admire women that are very hardworking. This include women that are uneducated but strive to make their children successful. The list also includes educated women who make a difference in their society.. I also admire a number of other women because of their integrity.
What advice do you have for young people who want to go into the sector?
I would advice them to trust in God with all their heart. They should be dedicated, focused and not be afraid. Two Bible passages to hold onto are Proverbs 3 Verse 5 which says: Trust in the Lord with all Rhine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
The second is Proverbs 3 Vs 6 In all thine ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path”.
