Itunu Hotonu
Nigerian naval officer and architect (born 1959)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu (born 18 January 1959) is a Nigerian naval officer[1][2] and architect.[3][4] One of the first women officers[5] and amongst the first architects in the Nigerian Navy, she has served as a staff college instructor and abroad in Liberia. In December 2012 she became the first female admiral in Africa.
January 18, 1959
- University of Nigeria (Architecture)
- Nigerian Defence Academy, Abuja (Officer training)
Itunu Hotonu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Itunu Tomori January 18, 1959 Nigeria |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Education |
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| Occupations | Naval officer, Architect |
| Known for | First female admiral in Africa; First woman to attend the Nigerian Defence Academy |
| Spouse | Abayomi Hotonu |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
|
Career
Itunu Hotonu was born (as Itunu Tomori) on 18 January 1959.[6] By the age of 13 she decided that she wanted to become an architect.[7] Hotonu studied architecture at the University of Nigeria, where she was often the only woman in her classes.[8][6] After graduating she worked in an architect's office for two years whilst she took her professional examinations.[6]
Hotonu applied to join the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army but was told there were no positions for women in that field.[9] She then applied to the Navy, which did not have gender restrictions.[6] She was accepted as an officer candidate at the National Defence Academy, Abuja, in 1985.[6][10] She was the first woman to attend the academy and graduated as best overall student in her class of 73.[10] She won the Commander-in-Chief's Prize and also the Commandant's Prize for best research project.[6] Hotonu became one of the first architects to join the Nigerian Navy.[6]
Hotonu was the first female officer to serve as an instructor at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji.[11][6][12] In 2012 she spent time in Liberia mentoring women in that country's armed forces.[10] She was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in December 2012, becoming the first female admiral in Africa.[10][13][14]
Personal life
Hotonu is married to architect Abayomi Hotonu with whom she has three children.[6]