Maryam Babangida
Encyclopedia
Maryam Babangida was the wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
, who was Nigeria
's head of state from 1985 to 1993.
Her husband was the target of criticism for rampant corruption during his regime.
However, Maryam was credited with creating the position of First Lady in Nigeria and making it her own.
As first lady, she launched many programmes to improve the life of women. 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.
, where she attended her primary education.
Her parents were Hajiya Asabe Halima Mohammed from the present Niger State
, a Hausa
, and Leonard Nwanonye Okogwu from Asaba, an Igbo
.
She later moved north to Kaduna
where she attended Queen Amina's College Kaduna for her Secondary education. She graduated as a secretary at the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna. Later she obtained a diploma in secretaryship from La Salle Extension University
(Chicago
) and a Certificate in Computer Science from the NCR Institute in Lagos
.
She was a cousin of Garba Duba
, a friend and military colleague of Ibrahim Babangida.
On September 6, 1969, shortly before turning 21, she married Major Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. They had four children, boys Mohammed and Aminu, and two girls, Aisha and Halima. After her husband became Chief of Army Staff in 1983, Maryam Babangida became President of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA). She was active in this role, launching schools, clinics, women's training centres and child day care centers.
in Lagos
. She had to arrange for considerable renovations to make the rooms more suitable for formal receptions. Dodan barracks was one of the key locations seized in the April 1990 coup attempt by Gideon Orkar
against Ibrahim Babangida, who was present in the barracks when the attack occurred, but managed to escape via a back route.
As first lady of Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, she turned the ceremonial post into a potent force for women's rural development. She founded the Better Life Programme for Rural Women in 1987 which launched many co-operatives, cottage industries, farms and gardens, shops and markets, women’s centres and social welfare programmes. She also empowered Nigerian women through programmes on adult education, primary health, agriculture, crafts and food processing.
The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women's Development was established in 1993 for research, training, and to mobilize women towards self-emancipation.
She championed women issues vigorously.
She reached out to the first ladies of other African countries to emphasize the effective role they can play in improving the lives of their people.
Her book Home Front: Nigerian Army Officers and Their Wives, published in 1988, emphasized the value of the work that women perform in the home in support of their husbands, and has been criticized by feminists.
Working with the National Council for Women's Societies (NCWS) she had significant influence, helping gain support for programmes such as the unpopular SFEM (Special Foreign Exchange Market) program to cut subsidies, and to devalue and fix the currency. She also established a glamorous persona. Talking about the opening of the seven-day Better Life Fair in 1990, one journalist said "She was like a Roman empress on a throne, regal and resplendent in a stone-studded flowing outfit that defied description..." Women responded to her as a role model, and her appeal lasted long after her husband fell from power.
Maryam Babangida loved outdoor activities such as gardening, enjoyed birds and was interested in domestic decorations.
(UCLA) Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles over complications arising from terminal ovarian cancer. However, an aide to the former president, said "Mrs Maryam Babangida is alive ... I told her about the spreading rumour in Nigeria concerning her death and she laughed, saying those carrying the rumour would die before her."
Babangida died aged 61 from ovarian cancer on December 27, 2009 at California's City Hope Hospital in the United States. Her husband was at her side as she died. President
of the Senate of Nigeria
, David Mark
, was said to have broken down into tears upon hearing the news.
The Times of Nigeria reported on her death that she was "considered to be one of the greatest women in Africa today".
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
, who was Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's head of state from 1985 to 1993.
Her husband was the target of criticism for rampant corruption during his regime.
However, Maryam was credited with creating the position of First Lady in Nigeria and making it her own.
As first lady, she launched many programmes to improve the life of women. 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.
Early years
Maryam Babangida (née "Okogwu") was born in November 1948 in Asaba, in today's Delta StateDelta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
, where she attended her primary education.
Her parents were Hajiya Asabe Halima Mohammed from the present Niger State
Niger State
Niger State is a state in the western part of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State.The state is named...
, a Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
, and Leonard Nwanonye Okogwu from Asaba, an Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
.
She later moved north to Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
where she attended Queen Amina's College Kaduna for her Secondary education. She graduated as a secretary at the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna. Later she obtained a diploma in secretaryship from La Salle Extension University
La Salle Extension University
La Salle Extension University , also styled as LaSalle Extension University, was a nationally accredited private university based in Chicago, Illinois. Although the school offered resident educational programs in classes and seminars their primary mode of delivery was by way of distance learning...
(Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
) and a Certificate in Computer Science from the NCR Institute in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
.
She was a cousin of Garba Duba
Garba Duba
Colonel Garba Duba was Governor of Bauchi State, Nigeria from July 1978 to October 1979 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, and Administrator of Sokoto State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.-Early career:Garba Duba...
, a friend and military colleague of Ibrahim Babangida.
On September 6, 1969, shortly before turning 21, she married Major Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. They had four children, boys Mohammed and Aminu, and two girls, Aisha and Halima. After her husband became Chief of Army Staff in 1983, Maryam Babangida became President of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA). She was active in this role, launching schools, clinics, women's training centres and child day care centers.
First lady
When her husband became head of state in 1985, Maryam Babangida moved with her children into Dodan BarracksDodan Barracks
Dodan Barracks is a military barracks occupying a large area located off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Dodan Barracks was the residence of the heads of state of various Military Governments in Nigeria, and also the Supreme Military Headquarters from 1966 until the move to Abuja in 1991.The...
in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. She had to arrange for considerable renovations to make the rooms more suitable for formal receptions. Dodan barracks was one of the key locations seized in the April 1990 coup attempt by Gideon Orkar
Gideon Orkar
Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar was a Nigerian military officer and revolutionary who staged a coup against General Ibrahim Babangida on April 22, 1990. Orkar's people seized the FRCN radio station, various military posts around Lagos and the Dodan Barracks, Lagos, the military headquarters and...
against Ibrahim Babangida, who was present in the barracks when the attack occurred, but managed to escape via a back route.
As first lady of Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, she turned the ceremonial post into a potent force for women's rural development. She founded the Better Life Programme for Rural Women in 1987 which launched many co-operatives, cottage industries, farms and gardens, shops and markets, women’s centres and social welfare programmes. She also empowered Nigerian women through programmes on adult education, primary health, agriculture, crafts and food processing.
The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women's Development was established in 1993 for research, training, and to mobilize women towards self-emancipation.
She championed women issues vigorously.
She reached out to the first ladies of other African countries to emphasize the effective role they can play in improving the lives of their people.
Her book Home Front: Nigerian Army Officers and Their Wives, published in 1988, emphasized the value of the work that women perform in the home in support of their husbands, and has been criticized by feminists.
Working with the National Council for Women's Societies (NCWS) she had significant influence, helping gain support for programmes such as the unpopular SFEM (Special Foreign Exchange Market) program to cut subsidies, and to devalue and fix the currency. She also established a glamorous persona. Talking about the opening of the seven-day Better Life Fair in 1990, one journalist said "She was like a Roman empress on a throne, regal and resplendent in a stone-studded flowing outfit that defied description..." Women responded to her as a role model, and her appeal lasted long after her husband fell from power.
Maryam Babangida loved outdoor activities such as gardening, enjoyed birds and was interested in domestic decorations.
Illness and death
On 15 November 2009, rumours circulated that the former first lady had died in her hospital bed at the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(UCLA) Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles over complications arising from terminal ovarian cancer. However, an aide to the former president, said "Mrs Maryam Babangida is alive ... I told her about the spreading rumour in Nigeria concerning her death and she laughed, saying those carrying the rumour would die before her."
Babangida died aged 61 from ovarian cancer on December 27, 2009 at California's City Hope Hospital in the United States. Her husband was at her side as she died. President
President of the Senate of Nigeria
The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate of Nigeria, elected by its membership. The Senate President is second in line for succession to the Nigerian presidency, after the Vice President of Nigeria...
of the Senate of Nigeria
Senate of Nigeria
The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator....
, David Mark
David Mark
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is the President of the Senate of Nigeria and Senator for the Benue South constituency of Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
, was said to have broken down into tears upon hearing the news.
The Times of Nigeria reported on her death that she was "considered to be one of the greatest women in Africa today".