Defying limits in the military, Aderonke Kale became the first woman to attain the rank of major-general in the Nigerian Army.

After earning a medical degree from the University of Ibadan, she specialised in psychiatry at the University of London. In 1972, she joined the Nigerian Army, a bold, rare move for a woman at the time.

Her impressive work led to her promotion to brigadier-general in 1990 and major-general in 1994, making her the first woman to achieve these ranks. As head of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, she oversaw the healthcare of military personnel and their families until her retirement.