Kwara State University Student Records Historic First Solo Flight at Ilorin Airport

A final-year student of Kwara State University has etched her name into the institution’s history books after successfully completing the university’s first-ever undergraduate solo flight.

Teslimat Abiola Nurudeen, a student of the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, achieved the milestone on April 20, 2026, at the Ilorin International Airport after independently piloting an aircraft in a 24-minute circuit flight around the airport.

The feat followed months of intensive aviation training, including ground school instruction, simulator exercises, and supervised flying sessions, marking a significant breakthrough for both the student and the university’s engineering programme.

Speaking during a reception held in honour of the student, the Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the achievement as remarkable and symbolic of the institution’s growing capacity in science and technology education.

He commended the student for successfully balancing the demanding nature of academic work with professional flight training, noting that the accomplishment would encourage more young Nigerians, particularly women, to explore opportunities in engineering and aviation.

Also reacting, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Abdulraheem Toyin Abdulbaqi, alongside the Head of the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Taofiq Omoniyi Amoloye, described the solo flight as a landmark achievement and a proud moment for the university community.

The reception was attended by senior university officials, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Moshood Mahmud Jimba; the University Bursar, Muhammad Abubakar; and the student’s father, Idris Nurudeen, who is also a Deputy Director of Works.