#BreakTheGlass Campaign Story - Admiral Itunu Hotonu

1)      Admiral Itunu Hotonu is the first woman to attain the rank of Rear Admiral (A two star General) in the Nigeria Navy.

What is really fascinating about the life of this woman is her sheer determination. Amiral Itunu was born in the year 1959 in Badagry, Lagos. She attained a degree in Architecture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She then tried to enrol in the Army but was turned down, she tried again but was also turned down; citing that there was no space for female in the Nigeria Army.

Her passion to work in the military was very strong and she did not give up, instead she tried a different route. She then applied to join the Nigerian Navy and was accepted and enlisted. There she broke the glass ceiling. In a fiercely male dominated sector, Amiral Itunu believed in herself, work hard and held diverse positions as;

·         Director of Projects, Naval Headquarters

·         Commander, Lagos Logistic Depot

·         Command Logistic Officer, Headquarters

·         Eastern Naval Command, Calabar,

·         Managing Director, Nigeria Navy Post Service Housing Scheme, Karshi – Nassarawa State

At her appointment as Real Admiral in the year 2012, she was decorated by the former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.

Admiral Itunu Honotou, has paved way for other women to attain leadership positions in the Nigeria Navy that was previously male dominated. Not only is she the first woman in Nigeria to attain this position, she is also the first woman in West Africa to attain this position; and lastly the first female officer to attend the National defence college.