Lifestyle
PHOTOS: Christina Eyimofe Stallings Nigeria’s First Air Hostess
Christina Eyimofe Stallings holds a remarkable place in Nigeria’s aviation history as the country’s first air hostess. She was born on December 22 1929 in Kaduna in northern Nigeria and became a pioneering figure at a time when air travel was still in its early stages in West Africa.
Stallings began her career as an air stewardess with the West African Airways Corporation also known as WAAC. This regional airline later grew into what became Nigeria Airways. Her work placed her at the center of modern aviation in the years just before Nigeria achieved independence.
A notable highlight of her career came on October 1 1958 when she was reportedly greeted by Nigeria’s first Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa after the inaugural WAAC flight. This event marked an important moment for Nigeria’s emerging aviation industry and highlighted the part women like Stallings played in presenting the nation as forward looking and modern. While this account appears in later tributes it would benefit from confirmation in contemporary records.
Later in life Christina Eyimofe Stallings moved to the United States where she lived until her death on March 27 2013 in San Francisco California. She was buried at Skylawn Memorial Park. Her pioneering achievements opened doors for Nigerian women in aviation and public service and her life continues to inspire those who follow in her path.
Sources
West African Airways Corporation historical records
Skylawn Memorial Park burial records
“Nigeria’s First Air Hostess” Nigerian Tribune April 2013
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