Patricia Mawuli Nyekodzi facts for kids

Patricia Mawuli Nyekodzi (born in 1988) is an amazing Ghanaian woman. She is the first female certified pilot in Ghana. She is also an aircraft engineer, a teacher, and a trainer. Patricia is the only woman qualified to build special airplane engines called Rotax Aircraft Engines.

Early Life and Dreams

Patricia Mawuli grew up in a simple home in Mepe. This is a small village in the Volta Region of Ghana. From a young age, she loved watching planes fly high above. This made her dream of flying one day.

When Patricia was 19, she looked for a job at Kpong Airfield. The director, Jonathan Porter, first said no. But Patricia offered to work for free. She helped clear the land around the school and remove tree stumps from the runway. Patricia was very good at this work. She showed great skill in figuring out the best way to do things.

Jonathan Porter noticed her talent. He asked her to help him build an airplane. Patricia learned very quickly how to use the tools and build parts of the plane. Because of her amazing ability to learn, Porter gave her a paid job. She became his apprentice and he also taught her how to fly.

A Trailblazing Career

In 2009, Patricia Mawuli made history. She became Ghana's first female civilian pilot. This was a huge achievement! She also became the first black African woman to be certified to build Rotax Aircraft Engines. She is also the first woman in West Africa to be certified to build and fix these special engines.

Teaching the Next Generation

In early 2010, Patricia and Jonathan Porter started an aviation school. It is called Aviation and Technology Academy Ghana, or AvTech. At AvTech, Patricia trained four girls every year. These girls learned many things. They learned how to build and fix ultralight aircraft. They also got flight instructions and learned about airfield operations. The school also taught them robotics engineering and computers.

Patricia used her own salary to help the school. She wanted to help girls from rural areas. These girls might not have had other chances for education.

Leading and Helping Others

Patricia became an instructor at Kpong Airfield, teaching at AvTech. In 2013, she was made the managing director of Operations for Kpong Airfield.

Patricia also volunteers as a pilot for an organization called Medicine on the Move. This group works with the Aviation Academy. They fly doctors and medical supplies to rural communities all over Ghana. They also share health education. Sometimes, Patricia even drops educational pamphlets over faraway villages to help people learn.