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Spotlight on some African women in aviation, maritime industry
As the advocacies intensify, a lot more women continue to prove their mettle in various sectors, giving men a run for their money. In this edition, The Spectator explores the aviation and maritime industry to tell the stories of four African women who did not settle for less in advancing their chosen career.
Ms Miracle Izuchukwu
This licensed Commercial Pilot from Nigeria is part of the seven percent females and one per cent black female pilots in the world.
She obtained her Commercial Pilot Licence from the Federal Aviation Administration, USA, on May 9, 2022 and holds Private Pilot and Instrument Rated Pilot Licences from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I grew up in a society that did not encourage young girls to dream big, career-wise. I remember watching lots of TED Talks to give myself more insights on possible careers that might interest me…to no avail,” she said.
In 2019, she had an encounter with an airline pilot while working as a Customer Service Representative which opened her eyes to the possibility of becoming a pilot.
“When I told my father I was considering becoming a professional Pilot, he said if he gets on a plane and sees a woman as the Pilot, he would get off the plane.”
In spite of the pain and confusion she felt following her father’s response, she did not give up on her ambition. Today, she is a Flight Attendant at American Airlines and working to build her flying hours in an effort to achieve her next goal of flying big planes. “If it’s truly something you want to do, you need to create it for yourself. In a world that wants us to whisper, I choose to shout,” she said.
Ms Elizabeth Marami
At age 25, she successfully passed the International Unlimited 2nd Mate Licence Examination in 2014, making her the first female Marine Pilot in Kenya.
She is a First Officer at Celebrity Cruises Incorporated and Founder of ‘Against the Tide’, an online platform whose mission is to inspire and advocate Sustainable Development Goal ‘5’in the seafaring sector by sharing stories of female seafarers across the globe.
Marami holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nautical Science from Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt, a Certificate in Maritime Studies from Hochschule Bremen in Germany and currently pursuing an MBA in Operations Management from the University of Nairobi.
“Working in a male-dominated industry has had its challenges, including earning the respect of senior management as a female professional. I have had those who have accepted me, helped me become better, and there have been some rejections that stung so hard I almost gave up, but overall I would say I have certainly grown a thick skin,” she said.
Captain Londy Ngcobo
She is Africa’s first female Dredge Master and Global Ship Navigator; making waves on land as a Maritime Advocate, Businesswoman, Global Speaker and Conference Facilitator.
She is a former Maritime Compliance Manager of Transnet National Ports Authority, Founder of Global Maritime Youth and Chief Executive of Womaritime Experts, a consulting firm in the shipping industry.
Nicknamed “The Blackmermaid,” Captain Londy Ngcobo is passionate about unlocking Africa’s Ocean Economy. With over 14 years of experience in the Maritime industry, her background includes Maritime Studies and International Merchant shipping.
As a mother and wife, she is passionate about women and youth empowerment. Her experience has equipped her with the ability to focus on providing sustainable tools for women to thrive.
Ms Chipo Gatsi
Her desire to fly was ignited in her primary school days when she got an opportunity to get into the flight deck of a plane, when flying to Cape Town with her family. After completing her Advanced levels in 2007, she began to do something about her desire to fly. In 2008, she enrolled with a flying academy in South Africa.
In 2009, she completed her Professional Pilot Course at Port Elizabeth, and successfully obtained a South African Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-engine & Instrument ratings. She immediately returned home (Zimbabwe) to convert her licence under the Zimbabwean Air Laws and Standards.
In 2010, at age 20, she joined Air Zimbabwe as a First Officer and went on to enjoy over a thousand hours of flying the Airline’s regional and domestic routes before joining Fastjet.
Driven by her desire to fly, Chipo did not fall victim to the limitations society places on millennials and women in particular where career choices are concerned.
“Believe it or not, there are people who still have reservations about a young black woman being a good pilot. I have learnt to go the extra mile and really push myself. Once you work on your competence, some of the negative stereotypes fall away.
“My focus is to continually get better at what I do and I cannot say it has not been paying off,” she said.
By Spectator Reporter
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
