Turai Yar'Adua

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Turai Yar'Adua
Turai Yar'Adua.jpg
First Lady of Nigeria
In role
29 May 2007 – 5 May 2010
PresidentUmaru Yar'Adua
Preceded byStella Obasanjo
Succeeded byPatience Jonathan
Personal details
Born (1957-07-26) 26 July 1957 (age 64)
Katsina area, Nigeria Protectorate
Spouse(s)Umaru Yar'Adua (1975–2010; his death)
Childrenfive daughters and two sons
Alma materAhmadu Bello University

Hajiya Turai Umar Musa Yar'Adua (born 26 July 1957)[1] is the widow of former Nigerian President and former Katsina State Governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. She was the First Lady of Nigeria from 2007 until the death of her husband, President Yar'Adua, on May 5, 2010.

Education[]

Turai Yar'Adua was born in the Katsina metropolitan area of northern Nigeria in July 1957.[1] She attended Government Girls Secondary School in Kankiya as a child.[1]

Turai Yar'Adua attended Garama Primary School in Katsina and Government Secondary School in Kankia, both in Katsina State. She later enrolled at in Zaria, Kaduna State, where she was reportedly named "best student" in 1980.[1] In 1983, Yar'Adua received a bachelor's degree in Language from Ahmadu Bello University.[1][2]

Personal life[]

Turai married Umaru Yar'Adua in 1975,[1] and they have five daughters and two sons.her two sons are Shehu Umaru Musa Yar'adua and Musa Umar Musa Yar'adua, Shehu is the name of late president Umaru Musa Yar'adua brother. And former Nigeria Vice President.[1][2] One of their daughters, Zainab, is married to Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Governor of Kebbi State.[3]

In September 2007, Turai was the guest of honor at the commissioning of the Mobility Aid and Braille Centre in Akure, Ondo State. The centre was built by the (HANDEF), a non-governmental organization founded by , then First Lady of Ondo State. Also in attendance at the event were the Vice President's wife, Patience Jonathan, and the wives of multiple other state governors.[4]

Turai was rumored to be one of her husband's closest advisors during his tenure as President of Nigeria.[1] For example, Yar'Adua is believed to have influenced the choice of Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, the former Director-General of the National Action Committee on AIDS, as Nigeria's Minister of Health during her husband's administration.[1]


She started her career as a teacher before later transforming to the Katsina State first lady serving from 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007, where she was noted for her empathy on the plight of the less privileged. Turai Yar’Adua visited the current First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in early February 2020. The former First Lady came visiting with her daughter, Mrs Zainab Dakingari. The President’s wife who personally broke the news on her Instagram page disclosed that the two of them discussed gender-based violence, drug abuse, and the development of the country generally. Mrs Buhari, who also shared the pictures of the visit on her page, added that she got Mrs Yar’Adua’s perspectives on the issues, adding that Mrs Yar’Adua reminisced on the past, especially the years she spent at the State House.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gabriel, Chioma (2010-01-15). "Turai Yar'Adua - a Silent But Influential First Lady". Vanguard Media. AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  2. ^ a b Iliya, Christy. "Hajiya Turai: What Manner Of First Lady?". Leadership online. Leadership Newspapers Group. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  3. ^ Birnin, Saka Ibrahim (2007-07-16). "'Yar'Adua's Daughter's Wedding Won't Affect Guber Case'". Thisday. Leaders & Company. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  4. ^ Johnson, Dayo (2007-09-07). "First Lady rallies support for physically challenged persons". Vanguard. Vanguard Media. Archived from the original on 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  5. ^ Chila Andrew Aondofa (2020-04-13). "Hajiya Turai YarAdu'a: First Lady Of Nigeria [2007-2010]". The Abusites. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of Nigeria
May 29, 2007 – May 5, 2010 		Succeeded by
Patience Faka Jonathan
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