July 16, (THEWILL) –Â May 2023 marked the beginning of a new era in Nigeria as newly elected state governors were sworn in. SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN writes about the wives of these governors, who will be expected to complement the efforts of their husbands by launching and executing pet projects and schemes in their various states
Remi Tinubu
Senator Oluremi Tinubu leads the pack as the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She tasted power as a First Lady when her husband was Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. After her husband left office, she contested for a seat at the National Assembly in 2011, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, and was re-elected in 2015, making her the first woman to be elected to serve in the Senate for two terms.
A lot of people are aware that the current First lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, but they do not know that she is also an educator. She worked with the Department of Science and Technology Education, University of Lagos before veering into politics. Her experience as an educator later became an asset in her political career as she used her expertise in advocating women’s education and empowerment.
As somebody who believes in investing in society human capital, Mrs Tinubu recently launched the Renewed Hope Initiative, with focus on agriculture, health, education, social investment and economic empowerment across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The First lady’s pet project will give succour and relief to families across the nation. It will be an all-inclusive, extending to local government areas and the 36 states.
Lami Fintiri
The wife of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Hajiya Lami Fintiri, has been active in governance since 2014 when her husband took over as the Acting Governor of the state. Although her husband stayed in power for just three months, that short period afforded her the opportunity to prepare for the task ahead. She was able to fit in perfectly in 2019 as First Lady when her husband was elected into office.
Hajiya Fintiri has consistently demonstrated a deep passion for empowering and strengthening communities, as well as positively changing the lives of many people in ther state. Her determination and commitment to the well-being and empowerment of women and youths led to the establishment of Fresh Air Pro-Life Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation that provides skills, enlightenment for women and youths of Adamawa State.
The first lady is also an advocate of girl-child education. Her NGO has organised different training programmes in computer innovation, awareness of sexual violence and the importance of girl-child education. Apart from her busy schedule as First lady, she is also the new secretary of the Northern Governors Wives’ Forum.
Priscilla Otti
Like her husband, the wife of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Priscilla, had a brief stint in the banking sector before following the footsteps of her husband, Alex Otti in the business world.
The graduate of Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, ventured into the fashion industry and made a name in it before stepping aside to support her husband’s political career. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Silhouette Fashion House, a leading fashion brand that specialises in high-end fashion designs for women. The fashion house grew to become one of the most respected fashion brands in Nigeria, with presence in several major cities across the country before switching roles to oversee the affairs of the state beside her husband.
The First lady is passionate about human rights, child care and women empowerment. She has been devoting her office and time to pursue a better life for women and children in her state.
Nkechinyere Mbah
The First lady of Enugu State, Nkechinyere Mbah, is arguably one of the youngest in Nigeria. She is a mother of four, a philanthropist, child health and sustainable nutrition enthusiast. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Technology, Imo State, Nigeria, as well as a professional certificate in Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership for Africa, from the China Europe International Business School, Pudong, Shanghai, in collaboration with Harvard University.
Mrs Mbah is one of the founders and facilitators of the Peter Mbah Foundation, a Charity Organisation geared towards grassroots empowerment and development for communities, women and children. She is passionate about grassroots empowerment and development for communities. Women and children will also not be left out among the groups she will reach out to.
Patience Eno
Patience Eno, the better half of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emo Eno, like her husband is a clergy woman. She co-founded All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, Akwa Ibom State alongside her husband and worked in his multi-billion business empire, the Royalty Group with stakes in hospitality, manufacturing, oil and gas and media firm before becoming the First lady.
Having worked side by side with her husband of more than three decades, it was easy for Mrs Eno to embrace the A.R.I.S.E vision of her husband as her pet project. The A.R.I.S.E agenda focuses on agricultural revolution, rural development, infrastructural maintenance/advancement, security management and educational advancement among women, children and the underprivileged in Akwa Ibom. The First lady chose the feminine aspect of the A.R.I.S.E agenda and has impacted the lives of widows, orphans and the less privileged in the state.
Folake Abdulrazaq
The wife of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, Folake, was born with a silver spoon. Her father, Hezekiah Davies, was a prolific writer and journalist.
Mrs Abdulrazaq was the third Secretary/Foreign Service officer at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lagos Liaison Office, before embracing politics. She also served as a Counselor to the Nigerian High Commission, London. She was the Acting Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Acting Director and Head Trade, investment and economic cooperation division.
Arguably one of the most fashionable First ladies in the country, her passion for children led to the establishment of ‘Catch Them Young’, a programme meant to educate young students in schools on the negative effects of social vices, such as drug abuse, child trafficking, truancy, examination malpractice and cultism, among others.
Eyoanwan Bassey Otu
Eyoanwan Bassey-Otu is the wife of Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the newly elected Governor of Cross River State. She is a politician who represented Calabar Municipal Odukpani Constituency of Cross River State, Nigeria in the Federal House of Representative between 2003 and 2011. Her husband also served as a senator before he became governor.
Eyoanwan, was a civil servant before taking over the role of the First lady. She spent 35 years in the civil service before bowing out. Like some of her colleagues, she is concentrating on women, widows, the girl child and the people living with disabilities in Cross River.
Tobore Oborevwori
The First lady of Delta State, Tobore Oborevwori, was up and doing while her husband, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, was campaigning for election. She has not rested on her oars yet. Apparently she is determined to ensure that the people of Delta enjoy the dividends of democracy. As her pet project, she has embraced the MORE agenda, which was initiated by her husband.
The MORE agenda focuses on meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms, enhanced peace and security in the state. The First lady is interested in the aspect that deals with women and children. She has provided succour for petty traders and enhanced small and medium businesses across the state.
Mary-Maudline Nwifuru
The Ebonyi State Governor’s wife, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, has been doing fairly well in her new role as First lady. Her husband, Francis Nwifuru, is the immediate past Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. He served for two terms before contesting in the last governorship election in the state.
Just like some of her colleagues, her pet project is focusing on children, women and the vulnerable in the state. She has empowered a handful of women and provided scholarships for out-of-school children.
Asma’u Yahaya
Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, wife of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, is the only First lady who rocks a full hijab. She is the Chairperson of the Northern Governors Wives’ Forum. An advocate of good governance, girl-child education and women empowerment, she established Jewel Care Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation where children, women and the underprivileged find succour. As part of her initiative, she has established breast and cervical screening centres across the state. A lot of women and students have also benefited from her free distribution of sanitary towels and hygiene packs.
Hafsat Uba Sani
The First lady of Kaduna State, Hafsat Sani, has hit the ground running since her husband, Governor Uba Sani, was sworn in. She has focused on uplifting the status of women, youths and people with disabilities by providing skills that will make them self-reliant.
Fatima Dikko Umar Radda
Fondly called the Diamond of Kastina, Her Excellency, Hajiya Radda, is a dogged and persistent woman who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of her husband’s campaign and election. She is the wife of the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, who was elected into office in March. Hajiya started her pet project even before her husband won the election. She empowered several women, youths and start-ups with capital for small and medium businesses across the 34 local Government Areas in the state. She is also concerned about the rate of infant mortality in the state and working to ensure the number is reduced.
Zainab Idris
Zainab Idris is the wife of Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris. She is an advocate against gender-based violence and has set up a scheme known as Nasare Initiative for the youth and women in the state. The foundation also oversees and prioritises education, specifically focusing on empowering the girl-child.
Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu
The wife of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Ibijoke, is a medical doctor by profession. She has two Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Health. She had worked for the Lagos State Government for 25 years before her husband ventured into politics. She was the Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer at Harvey Road Comprehensive Health Centre in Yaba, before assuming the position of First lady.
The First lady, through her office, has supported her husband’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. The overall goal is to bring strategic development to Lagos State through traffic management and transportation; health and environment; education and technology; entertainment and tourism; as well as security and governance, all geared toward making Lagos a 21st Century economy.
With focus on the health sector, she has revived, rejuvenated and repositioned the health sector for optimal service delivery. She also set up ‘Adopt-A-Child Project’, an initiative to help parents who cannot afford to give their children quality education.
Many children have been taken off the streets and back to school after getting scholarships from the First lady. The fight to eradicate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) from the state is another area that she has invested in. Pep talks, enlightenment campaigns and counseling have provided for victims of SGBV.
Silifat Sule
The wife of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Silifat, attended Ahmadu Bello University where she bagged a degree in Food and Nutrition. She has established the Silifat A Sule Hope Foundation, SAS, an NGO aimed at providing humanitarian programmes for women, children and youths.
SAS has touched many lives through skills acquisition, soft loan provision, payment of medical bills, provision of ‘Mama’s Kit’, an ante natal kit for pregnant women, in order to encourage them to go for treatment duration pregnancy. Many children have also been taken off the streets and they are enjoying scholarships in various schools.
Bamidele Abiodun
The First lady of Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun, is the daughter of Professor Oladipo Habeeb Oduye, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. She was a big player in the oil and gas sector with over two decades of experience in the industry before becoming first lady.
Abiodun is passionate about women and children, which is why her pet project is basically to ensure their welfare. She has initiated several programmes with a focus on social welfare, health, education and poverty reduction. One of the programmes she has created is ‘She Venture,’ in collaboration with First City Monument Bank (FCMB). It is an initiative focused on boosting the economic capacity of women by offering both financial and non-financial support to small and medium scale businesses owned by women.
Tamunominini Makinde
Engr Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde is the First lady of Oyo State. An Ijaw woman from Rivers State, she is a mother of three and quite passionate about improving the welfare of women and children in the state. She chose women empowerment as her pet project, starting different empowerment schemes that have provided soft loans and grants to traders and business women.
The First lady has also done a lot through her office to raise awareness of violence against women and children and child trafficking. By embarking on a massive enlightenment campaign, she has been able to help curtail the menace in parts of the state.
Helen Mutfwang
Although she is an indigene of Bayelsa State, the wife of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and First lady of Plateau State, Helen Muftwang appears willing and ready to leave a lasting legacy in the state. The mother of three, who met her husband while serving in Kaduna State, is also a lawyer. As part of her pet project, she has pledged to use her legal profession and existing legal framework to protect women and children, especially widows who are often cheated out of their late spouses’ properties.
As part of the measures she is putting in place, she will partner with civil society organisations, international partners and other stakeholders to support this vulnerable group and less privileged children in the state. Widowhood vocational training centres will also be made available to equip widows for a better life.
Hadiza Umar Namadi
The First lady of Jigawa State, Hajiya Umar Namadi, is leaving no stone unturned in her quest to spread the dividends of democracy to women and children in the state. She is devoting her office to fight against gender-based violence in the state and plans to facilitate the establishment of agencies against geed violence (GBV) and address issues of trafficking and rehabilitation of destitute people. She is also planning to equip orphanages across the state.
Valerie Fubara
The First lady of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Fubara, is a tireless giver and good listener. She is focusing on the plight of the less privileged, women and children. She is planning to initiate schemes that will provide financial empowerment to women in her state.
Fatima Aliyu
The First lady of Sokoto State, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, has been actively involved in the affairs of the state, even before her husband, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, was elected governor. She has attended several meetings organised by the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum toward the advancement of the people of her state. She is passionate about healthcare delivery, women empowerment and the fight against drug abuse in the state.
Hafsat Kolere-Buni
As part of her contribution to the development of Yobe State, the First lady, Hafsat Kolere-Buni, has established Ma’aruf Foundation to assist vulnerable youths to get education and empowerment, as well as for ocial change and sustained development.
Patience Agyin Kefas
The wife of Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Patience, is committed to improving the lives of the less privileged in the society. Upon resuming duty as the First lady of the state, she flagged off a Reproductive Health and Pandemic Resilience Project in Jalingo, capital of the state. The scheme will ensure that women, particularly expectant mothers, receive adequate antenatal care and kits. A lot of women have also been introduced to family planning as part of their reproductive health campaign.
The Taraba First lady also initiated the Community Health Influencers Promoters and Services (CHIPS) Programme. The programme assists women to get necessary primary healthcare (PHC) services by bringing the services closer to households through home visits by CHIPS agents, especially in the rural parts of the state. Volunteers are trained, kitted and deployed in the various communities. The personnel through home visits and counselling, educate and provide PHC services.
Hurriya Dauda-Lawal
Zamfara State first lady, Hajiya Hurriya Dauda-Lawal, is one of those who worked very hard to ensure that her husband, a former Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc’s Public Sector, North, Dauda Lawal, emerged victorious at the governorship poll in the state. She mobilised women and youths in the state who voted massively for her husband during the election.
The First lady resumed office with one objective in mind: To ensure that the people of the state are hugely rewarded for choosing her husband to serve them. Her primary goal is to ensure that women, children and the vulnerable in Zamfara State are adequately taken care of. Skills acquisition centres and provision of soft loans are some of the initiatives she has introduced in the state.
Nonye Soludo
Fitness enthusiast, Nonye Soludo, is the wife of Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo. Although she is an accountant by training, she worked in the manufacturing sector before becoming First lady.
The mother of six has a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Westminster, United Kingdom, while her first degree was in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Anambra State.
The Anambra first lady is the Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Living Foods Ltd, the establishment behind Royal Foods. Her passion for a healthy living led to the birth of the Healthy Living blog where she shares her health, fitness and weight loss journey.
Mrs Soludo also has stakes in the real estate industry. She is the Managing Director of Charles Frances Properties, a real estate firm based in London. Being a fitness, healthy living enthusiast, she established a scheme known as the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo across schools in the state.
The initiative is an open forum for hygiene and healthy living driven by ethics and passion. It is aimed at setting up clubs in schools that will serve as formative grounds for education and exposure of school children, teenagers and young people to the basics of a healthy life, and how they can incorporate the best living and wellness principles into their daily lives.
Aside from the initiative, she has improved the lives of many widows, women and underprivileged in the state.
Aishatu Bala
The First lady of Bauchi State has been enjoying the perks of office for some years now. Her husband, Governor Bala Mohammed, was elected in 2019 and he is serving his second term in office.
The educator and humanitarian married her husband at a tender age and had to acquire her formal education as a married woman. She started her secondary education while raising her third child and was able to proceed to a tertiary institution. She bagged her first degree in Public Administration at the University of Abuja and has taken more educational courses since then. The fact that she was married off early fueled her passion for the girl child education.
She established Al-Muhibbah Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation that is committed to educating the girl-child and raising awareness of the disadvantages of early marriage. The NGO has also helped the vulnerable and less privileged in the state.
Gloria Diri
The first wife of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Gloria, is a professional nurse and Matron of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. A fitness and healthy living enthusiast, with decades of experience in the medical field, she is concentrating on finding ways to tackle the challenges facing the medical and nursing professions in Bayelsa.
So far, Mrs Diri has had smooth sailing and impacted a lot of people in Bayelsa with her foundation, Gloria Diri Foundation in the last three years of her tenure as the First lady of the state. The amicable woman also has a soft spot for elderly people and she is an advocate against teenage pregnancy and drug abuse.
Betsy Obaseki
The Buguma, Kalabari kingdom, Rivers State, born first lady is the better half of Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is serving his second term in office. The financial expert has one of the richest resumes among first ladies in Nigeria. She has both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from reputable institutions both in Nigeria and overseas. The Edo first lady also has a Masters degree in International law. She is an alumnus of the Kellogg’s School of Business Executive Management Program from the North Western University in Illinois, United States. Betsy has worked at high profile companies holding managerial positions before becoming a first lady. She was the Head of Business Development and Senior Manager of Leasing Company of Nigeria, a subsidiary of Bank of Industry Ltd. She was also the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BOI Investment and Trust Company Ltd, which is another subsidiary of Bank of Industry Ltd. As the wife of the number one citizen of Edo State, Betty has empowered a lot of women. She has advocated and fought against sexual violence in the state and even earned accolades for her contribution in that area. The beautiful woman who is passionate about the girl child introduced two organizations, Junior Achievement of Nigeria, whose goal is to educate young people on various social and environmental issues and a non-profit organization, Ladies Aware, which empowers young ladies with skills and creates awareness for ladies about their rights.
Yemi Oyebanji
Wife of Ekiti State governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is a seasoned scholar in the field of Institutional Administration, Quality Assurance in Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership Education. She graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1997 and started her lecturing career at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti in the year 2000 as a research fellow in the Department of Education. Before assuming duty as the first lady of Ekiti State, she was lecturing in her alma mater, University of Ibadan. The princess from Ewi palace in Ado-Ekiti is focusing on gender advocacy by raising her voice against gender based violence in the state. She also established the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji Foundation, BAO in Ekiti state where the aged, widows and less privileged women are taken care of.
Chioma Uzodimma
She is the wife of the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma is one of the youngest first ladies in Nigeria. The mother of four got married in 2015 though her husband was formerly married to Augusta Uzodinma, his first wife of 17 years before their union was dissolved by the Catholic Church. The Abia born first lady is a graduate of Law from University of Owerri, Imo State. Barrister Uzodimma has showcased an impeccable profile of mother to all in the state and she has given succour, hope and happiness through the Good Hope Flourish Foundation, an initiative that has empowered women and children in Imo state. Apart from her passion for the vulnerable, she is also interested in human rights advocacy which she has merged into her role as the first lady.
Rashida Bello
Although governor, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has two other wives, Barrister Amina Oyiza Bello and Hafsat Bello, Rashida Bello is however the first lady. The graduate of Accounting from the University of Abuja was an Executive Director at Fairplus International Ltd before taking up the role of the first lady. She has been performing her role perfectly and providing succour to the people of her state. To achieve her goal of catering for the welfare of women and vulnerable in the state, she set up a non-governmental organization, known as Kogi Women and Youth Advancement Foundation (KOWYAF) which has been empowering women and youth, encouraging the growth of micro businesses for vulnerable women and to drastically reduce the mother/child mortality rate in Kogi State.
Betty Akeredolu
The First lady of Ondo State, Betty Akeredolu, has worked with the Federal Department of Fisheries.. In 1997, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but survived after undergoing treatment. Her health challenge led to the birth of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, a non-profit organisation where awareness is raised about the disease.
She also launched the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees, FOWOSO. FOWOSO has given financial aid to women, impacting knowledge in the form of skill empowerment, enlightenment on how women can take good care of their health and that of their children. A lot of women have been mobilised towards increased political participation through her schemes.
Erelu Ngozi Adeleke and Yeyeluwa Titilayo Adeleke
The duo of Erelu Ngozi Adeleke and Yeyeluwa Titilayo Adeleke are the two first ladies that Osun State is blessed with. Unlike other states where governors with two or more wives will appoint the eldest wife as First lady.
Although Erelu Adeleke lives abroad, she has vowed to ensure that the current administration in Osun delivers on its promises on education, youth and women empowerment, improvement of Osun State Health Sector, amongst others.
Chief (Mrs) Titilola Adeleke, the second wife of the governor is also ready to contribute her quota to the development of the state in the aspect of listening to women and youths, persons with disabilities, children and translating their concerns into workable proposals. She is also willing to serve as a mother to all and to represent the interest of the women, youth and children of the state.
