234Star Poll: Nigerians Crown Maryam Babangida Most Influential Nigerian First Lady

As Nigerians prepared to usher in a new administration on Monday, May 29, 2023, conversations started building around first ladies and the impact of these women who have led the countries by their partner’s side. At that moment, 234Star deployed a quiz that crowned Maryam Babangida as the most influential Nigerian first lady.

The wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Nigeria’s head of state from 1985 to 1993, owned the position of the First Lady of Nigeria and made the unofficial position significant with her contributions to women’s rights during her tenure. In simple terms, she was the ultimate first lady.

This was revealed as over 42% of the total 50 comments named Maryam Babangida as the most influential Nigerian first lady, while 16% opined that Stella Obasanjo was the most influential Nigerian first lady. The list also included Patience Jonathan and Aisha Buhari.

In her time as first lady, Maryam launched many programmes to empower women. At some point, there was something called ‘The Maryam Phenomenon’ as she became a representation of grace, beauty, and style while championing women’s rights.

In 1987, she founded the Better Life Programme for Rural Women, which gave rise to agricultural programs, welfare programmes, and women’s centres. Still trying to empower women, she established The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women’s Development in 1993 for research, training, and to mobilise women towards self-emancipation. While also releasing a book, ‘ Home Front: Nigerian Army Officers and Their Wives’, which glorified the work of women in supporting their husbands.

Although Maryam Babangida died at age 61 due to Ovarian Cancer, her impact has exceeded generations, and there is barely any other first lady who has championed women’s empowerment and rights as she did in her office. She is an icon, and she was the moment.