Fresh set of first ladies.....

Aisha Buhari

Married to President Muhammadu Buhari, she was born on February 17, 1971. A native of
Adamawa State, she was born into the family of the first Minister of Defence, Mohammadu Ribadu and got married to her husband on December 2, 1989.

She is an alumna of the famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. She is also an alumna of the famous Carlton Institute of London and the ACADEMY Esthetique Beauty, France.

Oludolapo Osinbajo

A grandchild of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, she is the wife of the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.   A devout Christian, she is the founder of Women’s Helping Hands, a non-governmental organisation passionate about empowering battered women and victims of sexual abuses.

Annah Ishaku

Annah Ishaku is a former Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.

A mother of five, she is the First Lady of Taraba State and studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She worked at a private law firm in Makurdi, Benue State for six years, after completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme.

Ishaku joined the civil service as a state prosecutor and rose to the position of Director of Public Prosecution.

Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike

The First Lady of Rivers State was born on May 24, 1972. She studied Law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, where she obtained a Bachelor of Law degree in 1996 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on February 25, 1998. She holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom by virtue of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship (2005/2006).

Between 1998 to 2001, she was a legal counsel with EC Ukala & Co. (Efe Chambers) and was later appointed a Magistrate Grade I in the Rivers State Magistracy, where she served for more than 10 years, with her last appointment being Chief Magistrate Grade II in 2009. She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State on February 14, 2012 and is presently the Presiding Judge, High Court of Justice, Nchia.

Eunice Ortom

Wife of the Benue State Governor, Eunice Ortom, holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Benue State University.

Currently studying for a doctorate degree in Political Science with specialisation in Industrial Development, she works with the Office of the Head of Service.

A mother of five, she began her career as an Administrative Officer at the office of the HOS, immediately after her NYSC. Between 2001 and 2002, she was posted to the office of the Accountant General as Administrative Officer II. Again, she was posted to the Ministry of Information.

She was later promoted to the position of Chief Administrative Officer under the Benue State Development Project on HIV/AIDS and subsequently became a Senior Administrative Officer/Gender Focal Person at the the Benue State Aids Control Agency from 2007 to 2010.

The beautiful and cheerful Mrs. Ortom was subsequently promoted to the position of Principal Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Finance, where she is currently serving.

Bolanle Ambode

With experience in different areas ranging from finance, to banking, consulting and private business, Bolanle Ambode is a go-getter.

Married to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, she has a bachelor’s degree in Physics/Mathematics and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Lagos State University.

Dr. Hafsatu Ganduje

An indigene of Malam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State, she was born 57 years ago.

Blessed with seven children, the First Lady of Kano State was, until recently, a principal at a school in the Federal Capital Territory. She completed a doctorate degree programme in Education Psychology at Bayero University, Kano.

Hajiya Hadiza el-Rufai

Born in Kano and raised in Kaduna, where her husband is governor, Mrs. Hadiza el-Rufai is a graduate of Architecture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Two years ago, she bagged an Master of Art in Creative Writing in the United Kingdom. She is a native of Chamo, Jigawa State.

Regina Lalong

From Pankshin Local Government Area, she is the daughter of a former Accountant-General in Plateau State. Mrs. Regina Lalong has an Higher National Diploma in Public Administration from the Plateau State Polytechnic. She is a businesswoman and is married to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.

Dr. Linda Ayade

She is married to the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, and hails from Obudu LGA of the state. A mother of three, she holds an MBBS from the University of Port Harcourt and an MPH from the University of Wolverhampton. She majored in Health Improvement and Health Promotion. She is also a member of the Nigerian Medical Association and the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. Until 2014, she worked with the National Health Society in the UK.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu

Married to Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu is a consultant paediatrician and is the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medicaid Radio-diagnostics, Abuja. She also worked at the Garki Hospital as a consultant paediatrician. She is one of the children of Umaru Shinkafi, who was the head of the Nigerian Security Organisation during former President Shehu Shagari’s administration.

Mariya Tambuwal

Mariya Tambuwal is a younger sister of Senator Abdallah Wali, the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, who was a contender for the seat of governor in Sokoto State, which was won by her husband, ex-Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. She hails from Sanyinna District in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Maryam Jibrilla

This Katsina State-born lady is the wife of the Adamawa State governor. She attended Kaduna Capital School and Federal Government College, Bakori before proceeding to Bayero University, Kano, where she obtained Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a diploma in Computer and Graphic Design from a British university.

Hadiza Abubakar

The First Lady of Bauchi State was born in Kano State. She attended Government Girls College, Dala, Kano and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained an MA in Public Administration and a BA in Literature. She retired as a Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she worked for 21 years, having previously worked at the Nigerian Television Authority for 10 years. She got married in 1979 and has five children.

Dame Edith Okowa

A mother of four, she was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secretary Education. The First Lady of Delta State has committed herself to public service in her ministry and her devotion to God at the Master Care Fellowship, where she serves alongside her predecessor, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan.

Rachel Umahi

Born March 23, 1972 in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State, she is a graduate of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and is the First Lady of Ebonyi State.

Iara Oshiomhole

From the Republic of Cape Verde, an island off the coast of Senegal, former Miss. Iara Fortes became the First Lady of Edo State when she got married to Governor Adams Oshiomhole two weeks ago. A trained lawyer, she is a former staff of Emirates Airline.

Binta Masari

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governor Bello Masari of Katsina State, is married to three women — Binta, Hadiza and Sakiya. However, Binta was the most visible during the electioneering period . She is a native of Kofar Soro in Katsina Local Government Area.

Veronica Ugwuanyi

Married to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, this light-skinned beauty is the First Lady of Enugu State. In her 40s, she is an epitome of humility as depicted by her conduct prior to her husband’s emergence as the state’s chief executive.

Hafsatu Ganduje

It is not clear if the present Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje, is favourably disposed to having a First Lady or he would emulate his predecessor and immediate past governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who did not have one.

Dr. Amina Abubakar

Her father, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd.) was Nigeria’s former Head of State. Married to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, she was born in 1973 and hails from Niger State.

She studied Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and has a master’s in Public Health from the University of Liverpool, UK.

Badaru Abubakar

She is the spouse of Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State. Introverted, little or nothing is known about her.