Aderonke Kale, Nigeria’s Pioneer Female Major-General, Passes Away at 84

Nigeria mourns the loss of Aderonke Kale, its first female major-general, who passed away at the age of 84. E.O. Okafor, President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, confirmed this tragic news on Thursday. The nation faces an irreplaceable void with her departure. Details regarding her final rites will be shared by her family.

In a statement by S.K. Usman, former army spokesperson, AANI and the entire country commemorate the extraordinary achievements of the iconic Major General Aderonke Kale (rtd) MNI. She leaves behind a legacy as a trailblazer in both medical and military history in Nigeria. May her gentle soul find eternal peace.

While the cause of her demise remains undisclosed, reports indicate that she passed away in London on Wednesday. Born on July 31, 1939, Kale initially pursued a medical career, training at the University of Ibadan and specializing in psychiatry at the University of London.

After a brief stint in England, she joined the Nigerian army in 1972, steadily climbing the ranks. By 1990, she had reached the position of a colonel and deputy commander of the Nigerian army medical corps. Her remarkable journey led to her promotion to major-general in 1994, and she retired from the army in 1997.

Aderonke Kale, who was married to Oladele Kale, a professor of preventive and social medicine, leaves behind a profound legacy. She was a mother to five sons, including Yemi Kale, a former statistician-general of Nigeria.