For a long period of time in our country ladies were not in politics and were considered as strangers in this area. However, times change and more and more female names became popular thanks to politics. This article is about the first female governor in Nigeria. We would like to tell you about two ladies who hold this honorable title. Read on to learn interesting facts about life and career of these women.
Aisha Alhassan popularly nicknamed “Mama Taraba” was the first lady officially elected to the position of the governor of Taraba State. Nevertheless, we should also mention Virginia Ngozi Etiaba who received a similar post after the displacement of her predecessor.
Virginia Etiaba - the first female governor in Nigeria
This lady was born in Anambra State. She devoted 35 years to teaching in schools in Port Harcourt, Kafanchan, Nnewi and Aba. In 1991, Etiaba founded her own educational institution in Nnewi.
In 2006, she became deputy governor of Anambra State. Virginia worked to protect the rights of female entrepreneurs, improve literacy, uphols the religion as a member of international and national programs.
She came to power in Anambra State in November 2006 when Peter Obi was impeached on suspicion of legal misconduct. However, the legislative bodies appealed against this decision and in February 2007 Etiaba had to return the post to the initial owner.
Aisha Alhassan - the first elected female governor in Nigeria
Let us list several important things that are interesting to know about the first female governor elected in Nigeria:
- She was born on the 16th September 1959 in Jalingo, Taraba State. This lady is a Fulani.
- Aisha studied at Muhammed Nya Primary School (Jalingo), LEA Primary School (Tudun Wada, Kaduna), Saint Faith College (now GGSS) in Kaduna during period 1973–1977, School of Basic Studies (SBS) A. B. U. Samaru Zaria (1977 -1979).
- When she was 18 years old (in 1977) she joined Students politics in ABU Main Campus.
- In 1978, Alhassan tried to become a vice president of SUG even without having a diploma.She won the election and became the only woman in SUG Exco that year. Over time, Alhassan began to fulfill the obligations of the president.
- In her student years, Aisha met her first husband Professor Ango Abdullahi. Their wedding took place in 1979. Three months later, her husband became vice-chancellor of ABU Zaria. They have 3 children. The first child (girl) was born in 1980. Then the young mother moved from the field of art to law in ABU Zaria. The second child (son) was born in 1983. In 1988, another daughter was born.
- In October 1982, Aisha Alhassan studied LLB in ABU and completed this course in 1985.
- During the period of 1985-1986, she studied at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.
- In 1986, she was called to the Nigerian Bar.
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Career path
In April 1988, Alhassan became an employee of the judicial system of Kaduna State. She joined the technical assistance program of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Fiji Republic where she worked in 1990-1992. In 1991, Aisha was registered as a lawyer for the High Court of Fiji.
Also in 1991, she was transferred to Abuja. She assumed the duties in this structure in 1992 after returning from Fiji. At that time Alhassan was the only female magistrate. Due to her talent and perseverance, in 1996 she became the first female FCT Chief Magistrate.
In 1997, she was sent to the Abuja Judicial Administration as the first female Deputy Chief Registrar and Director Litigation. In the same year, she was appointed the first female Attorney General of Taraba.
In May 1999, Aisha returned to the FCT Judicial after the democratically elected government came to power and continued to work as a Director Litigation.
In 2002, she received the FCT Judicial Service Committee post. In 2003, this hardworking woman became the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the FCT. In 2009, she voluntarily left FCT Judiciary.
Although Alhassan joined the PDP in 2005, she needed some time to show her talent to the fullest. This moment came in October 2010 when she easily achieved success in the senatorial election of her zone.
How did she become “Mama Taraba”?
In 2011, she opposed the current Senator Manzo Anthony. Alhassan was just a budding lawyer and it was quite difficult for her to deal with the patriarchal society. At that time, her patron was former governor, Jolly Nyame.
He supported Alhassan in the confrontation with Anthony. The idea was that Nyame had to help Aisha in the initial stages of the contest. But in the later stages, he was to win and become a senator. Nyame considered his companion a weaker player. However, as we see today, it was a great mistake.
Alhassan organized a large-scale campaign to get around Anthony. She had many people who believed in her and fought for her.
According to the voting results, in 2011 she received 144,0 00 votes while Nyama got 92, 000.
Such event was a great impact in the Nigerian society. Alhassan entered national history forever. For decades to come, when people ask "Who was the first female governor in Nigeria elected officially?" her name will always come up. And she will always be known as "Mama Taraba" - the nickname which Alhassan bears with pride. It is associated with the place where she obtained power - Taraba State.
For the first time, a woman has had such a big impact on the political life of the whole state after an election. She needed only one season of voting to achieve these amazing results. On June 6, 2011, this woman was sworn in and received the high post.
In fact, in 2011, four female senators were elected on the platform of the PDP. In addition, we should mention Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom South), Nenadi Usman (Kaduna South), and Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia central).
Mama Taraba served as a governor from 2011-2015. In April 2015, new gubernatorial elections were held in which she was defeated. In November of the same year, the alleged winner Darius Ishaku was dismissed by the tribunal. Mama Taraba was announced the winner. The victory of the Ishaku was abolished by the supreme and appellate courts.
Alhassan received the post of Women Affairs minister in Buhari’s government. Nigerian ladies can rely on this strong politician who understands their problems and needs.
Relatives in politics
Her family has always been connected with politics even before she was born. Her father supported the NSC when he studied at Barewa College Zaria. Then he began to cooperate with the NPC. He was one of the founders of this organization.
Aisha’s dad opposed the results of the 1959 elections. After 4 years he was granted a second term which he did not complete due to the 1966 riots. He served as Chairman of NPN and NRC Taraba State. In 1998, he became the Chairman of the Convening Committee of PDP in the same area. He worked to a very old age and retired at 80 as the State Ex-Officio Member.
Also, Alhassan’s elder brother A.A. Ibrahim Jr. was a Nigerian senator from 1999 to 2007 and represented the central zone of Taraba.
Now you know that the first female governor in Nigeria is Virginia Etiaba. But Aisha Alhassan was the first to get this post via official elections. These strong personalities evoke a feeling of pride and respect. Let's wish them well-being in all spheres of life and even more successes in the career!
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Source: Naija.ng