Give Ola Wings!

Meet Ola, my friend and children's au pair.

Olamide is a qualified attorney, certified pilot and works part time as an au pair.

I met Olamide in April of this year and have been so impressed with her diligence, eagerness to study, and her passion for flying. She hails from Lagos in Nigeria and has emerged from her humble beginnings as a responsible adult, who is particularly conscientious about her spending and saving and manages to pay for her flying lessons with help from her mother, a specialty fashion designer who runs her own small business in Nigeria. She combines her flying lessons, with studying for her aviation exams and coaching our dyslexic 11 old son, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 7. She has shown to be patient, compassionate and above all, fun, in her teaching of him and he has become enthusiastic about reading and writing as a result. His marks have improved dramatically (in his remedial school he is now top of his class in several subjects) and so has his attitude towards the daily homework burden. I believe in Ola’s abilities and character and want to assist in whatever way I can for her to achieve her dreams.

Ola wanted to be a pilot from as long as she can remember, but her mother, who raised Olamide singlehandedly after her separation from Ola’s father, insisted she obtain a professional degree first. Education was clearly highly prized in Olamide’s family (her mother completed a Bsc in Business Administration and Masters in Banking and Finance) and Ola managed to obtain entry into the prestigious federal school in Benin Province/State, after 2 years study for her law diploma.

She also worked at MLS Properties a Real estate agency in Nigeria. She obtained an LLB in law from University of Benin in Nigeria.

Despite this qualification however, she decided not to practice law but to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Following in the footsteps of Chinyere Kalu (née Onyenucheya), the first Nigerian female commercial pilot, she dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot. Ms Kalu trained as a private and commercial pilot in 1978 at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria in Nigeria and received her license as a commercial pilot in 1981, from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology. Later on in her career, she served as the rector and chief instructor of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (2011-2014). With this role model in mind, Olamide decided to pursue a career in flying.

Olamide had to overcome social pressure to ‘just get married’ and to the shock and dismay of her friends relocated to South Africa to obtain her pilot’s licence. She arrived in South Africa, with some savings and the contact details of the flight school. She did not know anybody locally and as the pilot study is mainly self study and practical exams, did not have the benefit of automatic interaction with classmates and locals. Never one to feel sorry for herself, she managed to make new friends and due to her self-starting attitude, found part time employment through an au pair website.

We were delighted. We had an au pair who was an excellent and careful driver, who is mature enough to be able to handle a child entering puberty and so much fun for our 6 year old daughter. She entered our lives during a difficult time of family bereavement and whilst not replacing the children’s grandmother, she was able to fill the void that her passing left in their lives. Death is a difficult topic for adults and children alike, but Ola was quick in following our lead to talk about their late grandmother in positive terms and remind the children how lucky they were to have had her in their lives.

In fact, we liked her so much we asked her to move into our garden cottage and assist with administrative tasks for my small business. She has become part of our family in record speed. I sincerely dread the day she will be fully qualified and move on.

Olamide remains ambitious academically and would like to combine her two passions (flying and law) by enrolling for a Masters in aviation law. Her ultimate goal? Becoming Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, of course.

The course identified is LLM in International Air, Space and Telecommunications

The cost is R75, 000, which plus expenses, including books and living costs is approx. R 180 000 or USD 12 500.

We therefore developed this ‘go fund me page’ “GIVE OLA WINGS” -- Please support her

Ethel Teljeur