Senator Daisy Danjuma, friend
The glamourous Daisy Danjuma got to know Maryam later in life but forged a close relationship with her over time. When she was contacted, the former senator and wife of General Theophillus Danjuma (rtd.), said the late Maryam was a sweet and a very accommodating woman, whose charisma was very magnetic.
“You could not meet her and not love her. Apart from being glamorous, what made her popular was her Better Life Programme for Rural Women. It was a huge success. A lot of Nigerian women benefited from it. She was pretty; that you could not help but notice her when she passed by.
She was warm and very receptive. Her motherly nature exuded grace and simplicity. She was the most fashionable First Lady Nigeria has ever produced. She will be missed greatly and we will not stop praying for her gentle soul.”
Hon. Abike Dabiri, former NTA reporter who covered the State House between 1990 and 1993
Honourable Abike Dabiri, a former reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, covered the State House in the last three years of General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration.
During the period she worked closely with the former First Lady with whom she became very close. When the rumours filtered in that Maryam was dead a few months ago, Dabiri went into a state of denial. “I called her phone; there was no response but after ten minutes she called me back. I was relieved.
“We greeted and exchanged pleasantries, quickly l said ‘Madam, how are you? I just wanted to hear your voice.’ She responded: ‘Abike, what did you hear?’ she asked laughing at the premature rumour. I said nothing ma.
But she said: ‘It is a lie, I know you. You must have heard something.’ However I dismissed it. We talked about politics in Nigeria. She asked after my children and my husband whom she spoke to. She said she was getting better. I was glad to tell everyone who asked me that she was not dead but hale and hearty, until this recent sad occurrence.”
Abike recalled that when she covered the State House in Lagos everyone had access to Mohammed, Aminu and Halima, three of the first couple’s children. “They mingled with everybody freely with no airs around them. They were humble and respectable. I will miss her gist and wise counseling.
I still spoke to her barely 12 days ago. All Nigerian women must ensure her legacies remain forever. Her Better Life Programme remains one of the most successful and impacting programmes embarked upon by anyone. She opened new vistas of opportunity for Nigerian women. I learnt so much from her in those four years I worked with her - the virtues of discipline, integrity, giving back to others, touching lives and family values.”
Zuwaira Gambo, National Executive Secretary, Better Life for Rural Women
To Hajia Zuwaira Gambo, who worked closely with Maryam at the National Executive Secretary on her pet Better Life project, the former first lady was an excellent leader and a mother in every sense of the word.
“She practically thought me everything about life. Honestly, what we learnt from her went beyond the Better Life Programme for Rural Women. For instance, I learnt how to cook a lot of Nigerian delicacies. She was always in the kitchen cooking. You couldn’t come to her house and sit in the sitting room. She was always cooking or supervising the cooking and out of curiosity and respect you would follow her to the kitchen.
“She was very religious. She prayed at the right time and nothing on earth tampered with her time-table for prayers. I remember when we were in Budapest and it was time to pray before she boarded the plane. We prayed in a church. I removed my scarf and spread it on the ground for her and she prayed. She prayed in the church because she strongly believed we all serve the same God.
“She was passionate about the Better Life Programme for Rural Women. A lot of people don’t know that after she left government, she continued with the programme, especially the adult literacy programme. About six weeks ago we graduated 126 beneficiaries in Niger State. She was on her sick bed but she still directed us on what to do and about two weeks ago, she called to link me up with an industrial bank to assist the ones that are not literate but hae acquired skills to start small scale businesses for themselves.
She left a very strong structure on the ground and had adequately prepared us to carry on in case of the unexpected. It is a participatory kind of relationship, she allowed us to use our initiatives in running the programme and we are all stakeholders in the Better Life Programme.”
Rebecca Aikhomu, wife of General Babangida’s deputy, Vice Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, and close family friend
“I called her MIB,” Rebecca Aikhomu stated when she was contacted by telephone. “I have sweet memories of working with her. We worked together in government. She was the First Lady and I was her deputy, especially with the pet project Better Life Programme for Rural Women.
We had so much fun and rubbed minds together during our tenure. We had challenges but that did not stop us from doing our best. Being the First Lady, she was a good leader and was not bossy. She had a listening ear. If there was a problem, she took time and listened to all the parties involved before taking decisions,” recalled Mrs. Aikhomu.
According to Rebecca, she and Maryam were not just working partners, “we were friends. I saw her as a junior sister and as well as a mother of the nation. She loved the company of people. I will definitely miss MIB, especially her caring nature. She was the epitome of beauty. I will miss her good sense of humor.”
Folorunsho Alakija, one of the former First Lady’s favourite designers and close friends
As the designer of many of the timeless master pieces adorned by the late Maryam Babangida, Folorunsho Alakija can take credit for being one of those behind her elegance and legendary glamour. Mrs. Alakija said remembering with a mixture of pride and sadness the relationship she had with the former first lady. “She was a woman of style and elegance. She was a leader, a special woman, deeply intelligent and caring. As a loving mother and good wife, she gave her children excellent training, and the children are very respectful.
“She never got carried away by the influence of the office. She was ever willing to level up with anyone at anytime regardless of status, age or religion. She was an extremely loyal friend to her close confidants. She made an impact generally in this country. She encouraged women to be confident in themselves. She encouraged them to be bold and stand for what they believed in. I think her passion for the Better Life Programme for Rural Women also led to Nigerian women being in government today and getting into key positions in the corridors of power and politics.
“She even made the rural women come out of their closets, believe in themselves and their abilities to the extent that many began to export their products and wares. She was a natural leader and people took to her and felt comfortable around her. She was a first class organiser and administrator. She loved nature, most especially children, birds, animals and flowers. We will greatly miss her. May her soul rest in peace,” Mrs. Alakija stated.
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