In the wake of a widely reported airport altercation involving Fuji music icon, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, one name has emerged in the spotlight — Captain Oluranti, the ValueJet pilot who sought to enforce aviation protocol in the face of pressure from the music legend.
Fondly called Rantilicious by friends and colleagues, Captain Oluranti is no stranger to standing tall in high-pressure situations. The daughter of former Senator Felix Kola Ogunwale — who represented Osun Central from 2003 to 2007 — she has carved a name for herself in Nigeria’s male-dominated aviation industry.
With over a decade of experience in the cockpit, Oluranti started her career with Arik Air, where she flew for several years before joining ValueJet. Her journey to captaincy was crowned in September 2021 when she earned her four bars after years of service as a first officer.
Her promotion ceremony at Arik Air was led by aviation heavyweights including CEO Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Director of Flight Operations Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, and then-Chief Pilot Captain Chris Najomo, who now heads the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Captain Oluranti is married to fellow aviator Isaac Ogoyi Jr., who also flew with Arik Air before transitioning to RwandAir and later Uganda Airlines, where he currently works.
In recent days, Oluranti’s name has become synonymous with professionalism after reports emerged that she refused to allow K1 De Ultimate onboard a ValueJet flight due to alleged misconduct, including bringing alcohol onto the aircraft — a move which has since drawn attention from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and led to the artist’s blacklisting by the NCAA.
While the incident continues to dominate headlines, Captain Oluranti’s firm stance has earned her praise from aviation professionals and the public alike, further cementing her reputation as a competent and courageous pilot.