Science, Medicine & Engineering
Landmark
Chinyere Kalu
born 1957
Nigeria's first woman commercial pilot, and head of Africa's largest aviation school
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Nigeria Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
She qualified as Nigeria's first woman commercial pilot in 1978, and in 2011 was appointed rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology — the largest aviation training institute in Africa.
Chinyere Onyenucheya Kalu became the first Nigerian woman to fly an aircraft and, in 1978, the first Nigerian woman to hold a commercial pilot's licence — among the first wave of African women pilots anywhere.
In 2011 she was appointed Rector and Chief Executive of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology at Zaria, the largest aviation training institution on the continent, putting her in charge of training the pilots who followed her.
In 2011 she was appointed Rector and Chief Executive of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology at Zaria, the largest aviation training institution on the continent, putting her in charge of training the pilots who followed her.
- Wikipedia — Chinyere Kalu
- The Standard — Nigeria's Adeola Ogunmola joins league of Kenya's Captain Irene Koki as first female Dreamliner pilots
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will check it.