The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has immortalized a reverend sister who died while rescuing students during the Abule-Ado gas explosion that occurred earlier this year.
Former Principal of Bethlehem Girls’ College, Late Rev. Sister Henrietta Alokha died on Sunday, March 15, when she stayed back to get her female students to safety as chaos was unleashed during the pipeline explosion that destroyed multiple buildings, burnt people alive, and injured many.
To honor the late reverend sister, a plaque was unveiled to immortalize her.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, made this known in a statement in Abuja.
Daramola said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, unveiled a plaque in Alokha’s honour and named the newly constructed 500-capacity Assembly Hall at the Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), NAF Base Shasha, Lagos after her.
Abubakar, who was represented by AVM Lawal Alao, the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (AOC LC), said that Alokha was being immortalized for her selfless efforts in the propagation of learning and service to humanity.
The CAS noted that it was appropriate that a facility such as the Assembly Hall in an institution of learning and character development should be named after someone who had dedicated her life to educating future leaders.
“We remember her for her actions during the Abule-Ado petroleum pipeline explosion which eventually culminated in a fire incident at the Bethlehem Girls’ College.
“Reverend Sister Henrietta made the ultimate sacrifice on March 15, while evacuating her students from the fire caused by the explosion at the school.
“Her bravery on that day paid off as no student of the College was lost to the deadly incident,” he said.
Abubakar said that he was hopeful that naming the Assembly Hall after her would not only be symbolic but would also continually keep her memory fresh in the hearts of people.
He said: “I am convinced that the story of her heroic act on that fateful day will continue to light a path for younger generations and the ones yet to come on the value of selfless service to humanity.
“In addition, her sacrifice will also serve as a motivation to officers and airmen/airwomen of the NAF who are presently deployed to various theaters of operation in our country.
“I pray for the repose of the soul of Rev. Sister Henrietta Alokha.”
Speaking also, Sister Monica Rowland, the Superior-General of the Congregation of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SSH), the Order to which Sister Alokha belonged, thanked the NAF for the honour bestowed on the late Alokha.
