Allen Onyema, the founder of Air Peace, has celebrated Ms. Gold Chinyere-Ike, recognized as the first woman from Umuerim Umukparo in Mbala, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, to travel by air.
This recognition was announced in a statement signed by the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, and shared with The PUNCH on Wednesday.
Ms. Ike, a Nursing graduate from Abia State University, went viral on social media last week after posting an emotional TikTok video recounting her first flight experience. She expressed amazement at the journey, writing:
When we were on air, I could see the sky differently. Down here, we look up to the sky. But when you’re flying, it’s almost like the sky is beneath you. I couldn’t stop thinking about how such a heavy plane could stay up there.
She described flying as a lifelong dream, rooted in childhood memories of watching planes with her father and imagining magical tales of gifts falling from the skies.
To celebrate her milestone, Air Peace’s Corporate Communications team visited Mbala to meet Ms. Ike and her family, delivering a personal message from the airline’s founder. During the visit, she was presented with two complimentary return economy tickets to any domestic destination of her choice, along with branded souvenirs.
Allen Onyema praised Ms. Ike’s journey as a reflection of Air Peace’s core mission.
Her story represents exactly why we do what we do,” the delegation told her. “Air Peace was established not just to provide safe and affordable flights, but to make air travel accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their background. When people move, their dreams move with them.
The airline emphasized that Ms. Ike’s experience is more than a personal achievement—it aligns with Air Peace’s larger goal of making aviation an inclusive reality for all Nigerians.