Nigerian Airforce Honours Reverend Sister Who Died Saving Her Students

Late Reverend Sister, Henrietta Alokha who died while saving her Students from a burning building has been honoured by the Nigerian Airforce.

The Nigerian Airforce named a newly built 500 capacity assembly hall after the late Principal of Bethlehem Girls College at Abule Ado, Lagos.

Parts of the school was burned down when an oil pipeline exploded at Abule Ado on March 15, 2020. Late Sister Henrietta paid the supreme sacrifice when she rushed in to a burning school building to rescue her students.

The Airforce also constructed a cenotaph in honour of the late Principal at the entrance of the hall saying it found her sacrifice as an inspiration for younger generations on the principles of selfless service.

The service noted that late Alokha exemplified the good shepherd who put the safety of her cubs above her’s.

While unveiling the cenotaph, the chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar said the hall deserved to be named after such a worthy Nigerian who distinguished herself with exemplary service.

Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air vice Marshal Lawal Alao also noted that the bravery of the late Principal ensured no student lost their life in the carnage.

“I am hopeful that naming the assembly hall after Rev. Sr. Henrietta Alokha will not only be symbolic but will continually keep her memory fresh in our hearts. I am convinced that the stories of her heroic act that day will continue to remind our younger ones the values of selfless service to humanity. The sacrifice should also serve as motivation for Airmen and Air Women of the NAF who are presently deployed to various theatres of operation in our country,” he said.

While appreciating the Nigerian Airforce for the gesture, Superior General, Congregation of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SSH), Sister Monica Rowland said she hoped the death of the Principal will be a lesson to leaders to be ready to make sacrifices for their followers.

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She thereafter disclosed that the Catholic Church had set up an endowment fund in honour of Late Alokha.

“It is called the Sr. Henrietta Alokha Endowment Fund. This fund is to be made available for indigent children between the ages of six and 17, who are very intelligent but cannot fund their education due to financial constraints.

“This is just the first step the church is taking. We are planning to do more things to immortalise Sr. Henrietta Alokha,” she said.