A 57-year-old woman becomes the first female Nigerian to hold the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army.
AFRICA | Amanda Azubuike, 57, is the first Nigerian woman to be elevated to the rank of Brigadier General in the US Army.
Her accomplishment is especially noteworthy since, according to Statista, she broke down barriers for Black women, who make up about 36% of enlisted women in the U.S. Army, and she rose to the top of a male-dominated industry.
Amanda was born to African parents, a Zimbabwean mother and a Nigerian father, in London, United Kingdom. Her mother’s move to the United States, where she obtained U.S. citizenship in April 1989, marked the beginning of her military career.
At the age of 17, Amanda joined the Air Force Junior ROTC at Jacksonville High School with the goal of enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Her desire to serve in the military was stoked by the program, which offers high school pupils aerospace education and citizenship training.
Later, in 1993, she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Central Arkansas. She soon became an aviator in the U.S. Army in 1994.
Amanda began her military career at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, in 1995 as a platoon leader with the 924th Aviation Support Battalion after completing flight school as a UH-1 pilot.
Over the course of her three-decade career, she moved into leadership and strategic responsibilities, such as those in public relations, intelligence, and senior advisory.
Among her noteworthy positions are those of Senior Military Advisor at the Pentagon, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command, and Deputy Commanding Officer at the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Amanda became the first Nigerian woman to be promoted to Brigadier General since the US Army’s founding as a result of her outstanding leadership and service.
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Knowing that she worked in a field that was controlled by men, Amanda admitted in an interview with Voice of Africa that she frequently felt pressured to put in more effort and show herself.
“I put pressure on myself because I am aware that I am frequently the only woman or person of color in a room. I believe that my achievement is a result of my diligence. Although I wasn’t the most intelligent student, I put a lot of effort into my studies,” she remarked.
In addition to her military accomplishments, Amanda continued her studies, graduating from Georgetown University with a Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) commended Amanda’s historic accomplishment and her exceptional commitment and dedication.
Her advancement was praised by NIDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa as evidence of her perseverance, excellence, and the influence of Nigerians in the diaspora.
According to Abike, “Amanda’s promotion to Brigadier General not only sets a new precedent but also highlights the crucial contributions made by Nigerians living abroad to advancements around the world.”
