A 500-level student of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Kwara State University (KWASU), Teslimat Abiola Nurudeen, has made history as the first undergraduate of the institution to complete a solo flight.
The milestone was achieved on April 20, 2026, when she piloted an aircraft alone in a 24-minute circuit around the Ilorin International Airport after undergoing months of intensive training, including ground school, simulator exercises and supervised flights.
Teslimat had earlier undertaken her six-month Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at the International Aviation College, Ilorin, where she further developed her aviation skills.
Receiving her in his office, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the feat as exceptional, commending her ability to balance academic demands with rigorous pilot training.
He noted that the achievement would inspire more students, particularly young women, to pursue careers in engineering and aviation.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Abdulraheem Toyin Abdulbaqi, and the Head of Department, Dr. Taofiq Omoniyi Amoloye, hailed the accomplishment as a record-breaking milestone for the university.
Other top officials present at the reception included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Moshood Mahmud Jimba, the University Bursar, Mallam Muhammad Abubakar, and the student’s father, Engr. Idris Nurudeen.
Reacting, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said the development reflects the vision behind the establishment of KWASU and the International Aviation College.
“The news that Teslimat Abiola Nurudeen… has become the first undergraduate from the university to complete a solo flight is exactly the kind of harvest we envisioned years ago,” he said.
He added that the achievement validates investments in human capital development and specialised education, urging stakeholders to sustain a culture of excellence in the state.
