Two decades after her passing, tributes have continued to pour in for Nigeria’s former First Lady, Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo, as Nigerians recall her legacy of compassion, dignity, and public service.
Stella Obasanjo, who died on 23 October 2005 in Marbella, Spain, at the age of 59, is remembered for her humanitarian work and her efforts to give a voice to the marginalised.
Born on 14 November 1945 in Esan, Edo State, the late Mrs Obasanjo was the daughter of Dr Christopher Abebe, Nigeria’s first indigenous chairman of UAC, and Mrs Theresa Abebe. She studied English and Literature at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) before proceeding to the United Kingdom, where she obtained qualifications in Insurance and Secretarial Studies from London, Edinburgh, and Pitman College.
Married to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976, Stella’s influence became visible long before she became First Lady. During her husband’s imprisonment under the Abacha regime in 1995, she stood as a pillar of resilience, keeping the family united and advocating for his release.
Former President Obasanjo, reflecting on that period, once said, “Stella was my strength. When I was in prison, she was my voice. She fought for me, for our family, and for justice. I owe my freedom, in part, to her courage.”
As First Lady from 1999 to 2005, she redefined the role by bringing compassion and social advocacy into the public space. She founded the Child Care Trust, a foundation dedicated to supporting children with disabilities and their families. She also championed maternal health and HIV/AIDS awareness across Nigeria and Africa.
Her leadership and empathy earned her recognition across the continent, including her appointment as First Lady of the African Union in 2004. Despite her achievements, those who knew her said she remained humble and approachable.
Professor Mobolaji Aluko once described her as “a woman of loyalty and grace under pressure,” while Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, said she was “a woman of rare dignity and quiet power, who brought civility and compassion to the corridors of power.”
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, now Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said, “Stella Obasanjo was a woman of substance. She used her position not for self-aggrandisement, but for service. Her compassion was deeply felt, and deeply given.”
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka also remarked, “Stella Obasanjo was a First Lady who understood the weight of her position and bore it with grace. She was not merely the wife of a president – she was a citizen of conscience.”
Her son, Barrister Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, in a statement released during the memorial event held at the Christ the Glorious King Chapel in Abeokuta, described his late mother as “the moral compass of our family, the one who held us together when the world fell apart.”
He added, “Today, 20 years after her passing, we still cherish the memories of her love, kindness, and generosity. May her gentle soul rest in peace, and may her legacy continue to inspire us.”
The memorial service, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, was attended by family members, friends, and beneficiaries of her philanthropic works, who gathered to celebrate her life and enduring influence.
Stella Obasanjo’s legacy continues through institutions named in her honour, including the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City and the Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home in Abeokuta, as well as the ongoing work of the Child Care Trust.
Twenty years after her passing, her life and work remain a reminder of the power of humility, compassion, and service in public life.
As one attendee at the memorial service put it, “She may be gone, but the seeds she planted continue to grow in the lives she touched.”
