17 Facts About Maryam Babangida

Maryam Babangida was the wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was Nigeria's head of state from 1985 to 1993.

Maryam Babangida's husband was the target of criticism for rampant corruption during his regime.

Maryam Babangida was credited with creating the position of First Lady of Nigeria.

Maryam Babangida Ndidi Okogwu was born on November 1,1948 in Asaba, where she attended her primary education.

Maryam Babangida's parents were Hajiya Asabe Halima Mohammed from the present Niger State, a Hausa, and Leonard Nwanonye Okogwu from Asaba, an Igbo.

Maryam Babangida later moved north to Kaduna where she attended Queen Amina's College Kaduna for her Secondary education.

Maryam Babangida graduated as a secretary at the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna.

Maryam Babangida was active in this role, launching schools, clinics, women's training centres and child day care centers.

Maryam Babangida's hobbies were gardening, interior decoration, music, squash, badminton, collecting birds, philanthropic activities and reading.

When her husband became head of state in 1985, Maryam Babangida moved with her children into Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

Maryam Babangida 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 Maryam Babangida, who was present in the barracks when the attack occurred, but managed to escape via a back route.

Maryam Babangida 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 programs.

Maryam Babangida 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.

At 61 years old, Maryam Babangida died due to ovarian cancer on 27 December 2009 in a Los Angeles, California, hospital.

Maryam Babangida's husband was at her side as she died.

On March 19,2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa accompanied by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal immortalised the memories of Maryam Babangida by commissioning the Maryam Babangida Way in Delta state capital, Asaba.