Recognition for Ex-First Lady, Maryam Abacha

Love or hate her, Maryam Abacha, wife of late Nigeria’s Head of State, General Sani Abacha, successfully carved a niche for herself as First Lady, with several indelible footprints via her interventions that continue to touch millions of lives.

At 74, and many years after she left office, she still possesses the aura of a First Lady.
Though many are just appreciating her strides in healthcare, women empowerment, peace and stability, she is unfazed.
As the First Lady of Nigeria from 1993-1998, Maryam invested her time in health programmes as she called for massive funding for the health sector to reduce medical tourism and enable the masses to get access to free health care. She also founded the National Hospital Abuja (formerly known as National Hospital for Women And Children).

In her quest for peace on African soil, she galvanised African First Ladies promoting the Peace Mission. She also promoted some programmes including Poverty Alleviation Programme, National Programme on Immunisation, the Family Support Programme, Family Support Basic Education Programme and Family Economic Advancement Programme.

In appreciation of the unsung heroine who gave her all in the development of the health sector in Nigeria, she was recently honoured with an award of excellence from the Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria at the award gala, where other prominent Nigerians who had made marks in different endeavours were also awarded.