Still on firstladyship and national development in democracy

A new chapter was opened in the roles, activities and operational structure of the office of Nigeria’s first ladies, when the country returned to civil rule in 1999. Since the inauguration of the Better Life Programme for Rural Women (BLPRW), by late Mrs Maryam Babangida in 1987, the unilateral pattern, by which all the 36 states and 774 LGAs in Nigeria, were usually compelled to serve as mere channels of replicating all the programmes initiated by the first lady in Abuja, changed in line with democratic ideals. Thus, late Mrs Stella Obasanjo was the first woman to run the office, as wife of a democratically elected president.

Although, late Alhaji Shehu Shagari (GCFR) was Nigeria’s first democratically elected president (1979-83), but none of his wives played any significant role, both in government and public affairs. It was also the same position during the first republic, under the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello (as Nigeria’s prime-minister), between August 30, 1959 and January 15, 1966. However, the office of the first lady remained inactive from 1975 to 1985 (during Murtala, Obasanjo, Shagari and Buhari’s era, respectively).

As the departure of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar ushered in the present democratic process of Nigeria’s fourth republic, his wife, Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar (presently Nigeria’s last first lady, under a military government), left the legacy of using a registered NGO to run her pet project, named Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA). Thereafter, late Mrs Stella Obasanjo also ran the office, through the Child Care Trust, to empower and carter for the needs of special children with both mental and physical disabilities. Thereby, a special children centre was built in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, before her death. Following her demise on 23rd October 2005, Hajiya Amina Titi Abubakar (wife of the then vice-president), filled the vacuum, by playing the official roles of the first lady. Thus, she operated under her own registered NGO, named Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), to advocate against human trafficking.

On the premise of WOTCLEF, she initiated a private bill, which led to the establishment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The agency was created on 4th July 2003 by an act of the parliament, which received presidential assent on 14th July 2003.

On her part, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, came up with the initiative of socio-economic and political empowerment of women and youths, through the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF), which covered: vision (eye/blindness eradication project); maternal and new born health improvement programme (MANIP)/ ‘mama kit’ for safe motherhood; screening programme for breast and cervical cancer (SPB & CC); HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) intervention programmes; diabetes awareness and eradication programmes; as well as the formation of the National Women Coalition on Aids (NAWOCA), which was inaugurated in collaboration with the National Action Committee on Aids (NACA).

It is noteworthy to also mention that Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua emerged as the first woman in Nigeria’s history, who served as first lady at both state (Katsina : 2003-2007) and federal (2007-2010), respectively. She is also the second Nigerian first lady after Hajiya Maryam Abacha, to be elected as the head of the African First Ladies Mission (AFLM) in 2008.

Like her predecessor, Dame Patience Jonathan also began to play the role of first lady at the state level, when her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR), first emerged as deputy governor and later, governor of Bayelsa State (2005-2007). Her pet project/NGO was named A. Areuera Reachout Foundation (AARE), which focused on humanitarian and empowerment activities. Later, she flagged-off a new NGO, called Women for Change Initiative (WCI), to sensitise and mobilise women for effective participation in political, economic and social development activities, geared towards national development as well as the attainment and domestication of some international agreements, like the Beijin Platform for Action/Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), to which Nigeria is a signatory. The WCI also provided a veritable platform for the review of some repressive and uncivilized cultural practices, heavy taxation, as well as inheritance, land use and marriage acts that are discriminatory to women.

The immediate past first lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari is now Nigeria’s longest serving first lady, under a democratically elected government (2015-2023). She is also the second first lady, as wife of a former military ruler and civillian president in Nigeria. She started with Aisha Buhari Foundation (ABF) and also flagged-off the Future Assured Programme (FAP), to impact on the lives of women and children with special attention on reproductive, maternal, children and adolescent health issues. Other critical areas of concern, to her pet project were adult literacy, girl-child education, malnutrition, gender-based violence, battery and rape, among others.

Moreover, through the Future Assured Programme, she established a mutual collaboration with the Governors’ Wives Advocacy Coalition (GWAC). Thus, some states government were encouraged to ratify relevant laws such as the violence against persons prohibition act (VAPP); and to enact appropriate legislations against female genital mutilation. Moreso, she also organised “Aisha Buhari Cup 2021” among some African countries and donated a Future Assured College in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Since the initiative of the Better Life Programme for Rural Women (BLPRW) was launched on September 18, 1987 Nigeria has so far, produced nine first ladies at the national level, 398 states first ladies and almost 8,000 first ladies at the local government levels. However, since the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, Nigeria has produced five federal first ladies and 225 states first ladies. It is therefore, a big concern that the office of the first ladies do not have direct statutory budgets. At the same time, the enormous financial resources that are being expended for their day-to-day activities are swept away, whenever there is a change of government, both at the federal and states levels.

However, it is noteworthy to mention that the New Era Foundation (NEF), initiated as the pet project of Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in Lagos State (1999-2007), has remained the most-viable and most-impactful, among all other pet projects of Nigeria’s first ladies (both federal and states) since 1999 till date.

At this juncture, it is therefore, very pertinent to mention that late frontline human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, vehemently challenged the constitutionality of the office of first lady; stating categorically, that there is no place for it in the Nigerian constitution. Therefore, following the emergence of Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Nigeria’s first lady, it is expected that she will bring her wealth of experience to bear (as a former first lady in Lagos State and a former federal law-maker), to ensure that some enabling constitutional provisions are now formulated, to properly harmonise the roles and activities of the exalted office of the first lady into both the federal constitution and states bye-laws, respectively.

Without bias, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has gallantly emerged as the longest serving, most-experienced and most-versatile first lady in the annals of Nigeria’s history, going by her roles and giant strides in Nigeria’s democratic project, from the third republic till now.
Comrade Owolabi-Abdullahi, formerly general secretary (Lagos State Youth Council)/National vice-president, SW (National Youth Council of Nigeria)08055048925/ganiyuabdullahi751 @gmail.com