All the women who have served as Nigeria’s First Ladies since the country gained independence in 1960 are included here. On October 1, 1960, Nigeria officially became an independent nation. Many of Nigeria’s first ladies have since become politically engaged.
Nigeria has recently made the change from military rule to a democratic system of governance. This list includes women who have served as first ladies in both authoritarian and constitutional governments.
Here is a long list of first ladies of Nigeria, from 1960 to the present day:
1. Flora Azikiwe (October 1963 – 16 January 1966)
2. Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi (16 January 1966 – 29 July 1966)
3. Victoria Gowon (1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975)
4. Ajoke Mohammed (29 July 1975 – 13 February 1976)
5. Esther Oluremi Obasanjo (13 February 1976 – 1 October 1979)
6. Absence of First Lady, Polygamist Head of State (1 October 1979 31 December 1983)
7. Safinatu Buhari (31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985)
8. Maryam Babangida (27 August 1985 – 26 August 1993)
9. Margaret Shonekan (26 August 1993 17 – November 1993)
10. Maryam Abacha (17 November 1993 – 8 June 1998)
11. Fati Lami Abubakar (8 June 1998 – 29 May 1999)
12. Stella Obasanjo (29 May 1999 – 23 October 2005 (Lost Her Life in Office)
13. Turai Yar’Adua (29 May 2007 – 9 February 2010)
14. Patience Jonathan (9 February 2010 – 6 May 2010)
16. Patience Jonathan (6 May 2010 – 29 May 2015)
17. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari (29 May 2015 – Present).
Throughout history, both in Nigeria and elsewhere, the wives of heads of state or presidents have had important roles in their respective countries governments.
Other than the fact that they are the spouses of the President or Prime Minister, as the case may be, who is the Head of State at the time, no one can identify a statute that specifically defines roles for these flamboyant and fashionable women in the governments of their countries. Through philanthropic work and other pursuits, some of these women have found such success in their home countries that they are well-known elsewhere.
During their terms in office, the majority of these first ladies were adored and treasured. Some even expressed the wish that they could have elected such a first lady again………See More
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