Itunu Hotonu

Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu (born 18 January 1959) is a Nigerian naval officer^[1][2] and architect.^[3][4] One of the first women officers^[5] and amongst the first architects in the Nigerian Navy, she has served as a staff college instructor and abroad in Liberia. In December 2012 she became the first female admiral in Africa.

Itunu Hotonu was born (as Itunu Tomori) on 18 January 1959.^[6] By the age of 13 she decided that she wanted to become an architect.^[7] Hotonu studied architecture at the University of Nigeria, where she was often the only woman in her classes.^[8][6] After graduating she worked in an architect's office for two years whilst she took her professional examinations.^[6]

Hotonu applied to join the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army but was told there were no positions for women in that field.^[9] She then applied to the Navy, which did not have gender restrictions.^[6] She was accepted as an officer candidate at the National Defence Academy, Abuja, in 1985.^[6][10] She was the first woman to attend the academy and graduated as best overall student in her class of 73.^[10] She won the Commander-in-Chief's Prize and also the Commandant's Prize for best research project.^[6] Hotonu became one of the first architects to join the Nigerian Navy.^[6]

Hotonu was the first female officer to serve as an instructor at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji.^[11][6][12] In 2012 she spent time in Liberia mentoring women in that country's armed forces.^[10] She was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in December 2012, becoming the first female admiral in Africa.^[10][13][14]

Hotonu is married to architect Abayomi Hotonu with whom she has three children.^[6]