History has been made as Amanda Azubuike, 57, a Black military officer from Nigeria, has been promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army, a position no Nigerian woman has ever reached.
Her rise through the ranks in this male-dominated field makes her an inspirational role model among women, especially Black women who seek to break into the barriers of military leadership.
Although born in London to a Nigerian father and a Zimbabwean mother, Azubuike relocated to the United States in 1984.
At 17, her journey in the military kicked off when she joined the Air Force Junior ROTC during high school in Jacksonville. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas in December 1993 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army.
She attended flight school and in 1995, she graduated as a UH-1 pilot. She then attended the Army Aviation Officer Basic Course and served as a platoon leader in Georgia.
Azubuike’s career spans more than three decades, marked by her work in military intelligence, public affairs, and senior advisory roles.
Her leadership journey saw her serving as Deputy Commanding Officer at the U.S. Army Cadet Command, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command, and Senior Military Advisor at the Pentagon.
Through her remarkable contributions, she became the first Nigerian woman to attain the prestigious rank of Brigadier General.
