Nigeria has had 13 heads of state with about the same number of first ladies. Some however have been very pleasing to the eyes. Here’s our run down of the most beautiful first ladies Nigeria has had in no particular order.
Maryam Babanginda
Maryam was the wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was Nigeria‘s head of state from 1985 to 1993. As first lady, she launched many programmes to improve the life of women. On 6 September 1969, shortly before her 21st birthday, she married Major Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. They had four children, boys Mohammed and Aminu, and two girls, Aisha and Halima. The “Maryam Phenomenon” became a celebrity and a “an icon of beauty, fashion and style”, a position she retained after her husband’s fall from power. She died on the 27th of December 2009 (aged 61) in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Turai Yar’Adua
Turai is the widow of former Nigerian President and former Katsina StateGovernor Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. She served as the First Lady of Nigeria from 2007 until the death of her husband, President Yar’Adua, on May 5, 2010. Turai married Umaru Yar’Adua in 1975, and they have five daughters and two sons. One of their daughters, Zainab, is married to Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Governor of Kebbi State.
Stella Obasanjo
Stella was the First Lady of Nigeria from 1999 until her death. She was the wife of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. She died while undergoing elective liposuction in an exclusive clinic in Spain. She was admitted to the University of Ife now (Obafemi Awolwo University), Ile-Ife, for a bachelor’s degree in English, attending from 1967 to 1969. In 1969 she transferred to the UK to complete her studies, this time round, in insurance, in London and Edinburgh, Scotland, from 1970 to 1974. As first Lady of Nigeria, she joined the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation and on 6 February 2003, she declared the day the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.
Hajiya Asiya Buhari
Not much is known about General Buhari’s wife but the pretty former first lady came out recently to condemn the bomb attack on her husband.
Maryam Abacha
Maryam (born 4 March 1947, Kaduna) is the widow of Sani Abacha serving as first lady from 1993 to 1998. Maryam and Sani Abacha had three daughters and six sons. Maryam Abacha’s eldest surviving son is Mohammed Abacha. Maryam Abacha founded National Hospital Abuja (originally National Hospital For Women And Children) ..