Special Report

LG’s New NeoChef Microwave Celebrates Nigerian Cuisine with Local AutoCook Menus

by Women Times on September 17, 2026

LG Electronics has launched its upgraded NeoChef Microwave, now featuring an African AutoCook Menu specifically designed to cater to the cooking preferences of African households. This innovation highlights LG’s dedication to developing technologies that honor local lifestyles, tastes, and culinary traditions.

Under the theme, “Cook the African Way, The NeoChef Way,” the new NeoChef transforms the microwave from a mere reheating device into a versatile kitchen helper. It allows Nigerian families to prepare beloved local dishes with ease, consistency, and confidence.

At the core of this new offering is an expanded AutoCook feature that boasts 28 programmed menus in total. Of these, 20 are African-inspired, crafted around familiar dishes, while the remaining eight include Arabic and European options. This broadens culinary possibilities, making the appliance both culturally relevant and globally versatile.

Some of the featured African dishes include Jollof Rice, Moi Moi, Poundo Yam, Coconut Rice, Pap, Asun, Chicken-Dodo Suya, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jollof Pasta, Fish in Curry Sauce, Suya Roasted Fish, Plantain Cheesy Bite, and Grilled Corn, among others. These programmes are designed to optimize cooking settings for each dish, reducing guesswork and helping users achieve authentic, delicious results every time.

“At LG, innovation begins with understanding our consumers. The African AutoCook Menu reflects our commitment to creating products that resonate with local cultures and lifestyles. Nigerians are passionate about their food, and this new NeoChef Microwave enables families to prepare many of their favourite meals more conveniently without compromising on authentic taste,” said Mr. Oktae Kim, Product Director, Home Appliances Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa.

The LG NeoChef MH8265CIS features a generous 42-litre capacity, 1200W microwave power, grill functionality, and LG’s Smart Inverter Technology, which ensures precise power control for even heating and defrosting. It also comes with LG’s EasyClean™ antibacterial coating, user-friendly touch controls, and multiple cooking functions to suit everyday meal preparation needs.

This African AutoCook Menu is more than just a collection of recipes; it exemplifies LG’s approach to localizing innovation—merging global technology with a deep understanding of how consumers in different markets cook and eat. From Jollof Rice and Moi Moi to Poundo Yam and Suya Roasted Fish, these programmes bring traditional foods into a modern appliance, showing how technology can be made more meaningful and relevant.

The appliance also offers Arabic and European AutoCook menus, providing even more options for households that enjoy a variety of cuisines. This versatility allows users to explore new meals while enjoying the convenience and dependability of the NeoChef range.

As Nigerian lifestyles become busier, the need for convenient kitchen solutions grows. LG’s enhanced NeoChef responds to this trend by helping families spend less time on routine cooking, all while enjoying the rich flavors of their culture.

The introduction of the African AutoCook Menu signifies LG’s broader vision of tailoring products to meet real consumer needs. By blending advanced technology with culturally relevant food programmes, LG positions the NeoChef microwave as an essential, versatile partner in every Nigerian kitchen.

The LG NeoChef Microwave with African AutoCook Menu is now available at LG Brand Shops, Fouani Showrooms, and authorized retail outlets nationwide.

For more information about the LG NeoChef MH8265CIS, visit LG Africa – NeoChef MH8265CIS. Consumers can also explore LG NeoChef recipes and cooking inspiration.

Special Report

Adedolapo Osuntuyi Selected Among 12 African Education Leaders for Prestigious AL for Education Fellowship

by Women Times on August 22, 2026

Adedolapo Osuntuyi, Founder of Dolly Children Foundation and Dolly Stars School, has been named among a prestigious group of 12 African education leaders for the sixth cohort of the AL for Education School CEO Fellowship & Accelerator Programme. This recognition follows a highly competitive selection process that drew applications from across the continent, spotlighting her as a leader committed to transforming education in underserved communities.

Osuntuyi’s inclusion places her among a distinguished cohort of mission-driven school founders and CEOs dedicated to expanding access to quality education throughout Africa. Representing diverse regions—including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and South Sudan—these Fellows exemplify innovative models and approaches, united by a shared goal: to improve learning outcomes and create new opportunities for Africa’s children.

For Osuntuyi, this acknowledgment is especially meaningful, reflecting over a decade of grassroots efforts in education. Through Dolly Children Foundation, she has quietly pioneered initiatives centered on educational access, teacher development, mentorship, scholarships, and community support. Meanwhile, Dolly Stars School provides free, holistic, learner-centered education to children in Makogi, Magboro, Ogun State.

Her selection underscores the importance of sustained, community-focused work and her dedication to practical solutions for children and families often marginalized by formal education systems.

The AL for Education School CEO Fellowship & Accelerator is a comprehensive two-year leadership development program designed to empower education leaders who are creating innovative, scalable models of quality learning across Africa. Participants receive leadership training, operational expertise, financial backing, teacher training opportunities, mentorship, and access to a robust peer network across the continent.

Beyond nurturing individual leaders, the program aims to strengthen the broader education ecosystem by enhancing the capacity of institutions and fostering locally driven solutions—key elements for sustainable progress in African education.

Commenting on her selection, Osuntuyi expressed her gratitude and emphasized its significance:
“This selection deeply humbles me. For me, it is not simply about being chosen for a fellowship; it is a reminder that years of quiet work, persistence and commitment to children matter. Much of the work we do happens away from the spotlight, so to have that journey recognised alongside remarkable education leaders from across Africa is deeply meaningful.”

She further emphasized the value of collaboration and shared learning:
“I am looking forward to learning, unlearning and building with people who are confronting different realities but share the same conviction that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. I hope to bring those lessons back to our schools and communities and, ultimately, contribute to a stronger education ecosystem in Africa.”

This acknowledgment arrives at a pivotal moment for Osuntuyi’s work, as Dolly Children Foundation continues to expand its reach in educational access and capacity building. Her recognition also highlights the growing importance of African-led solutions—practical interventions driven by local leaders to address unique community needs.

As the two-year journey of Cohort 6 begins, Osuntuyi joins eleven other trailblazing education leaders united by a shared vision: to strengthen schools, empower educators, and unlock meaningful opportunities for Africa’s children.

Special Report

Second Home, Second Mother: Life Inside an Early Years Classroom

by Women Times on July 3, 2026

By Ohore Emmanuel Ufuoma

The Early Years classrooms have effectively become surrogate homes where educators now tie shoelaces, calm separation anxiety, supervise naps, enforce discipline, and provide comfort after minor injuries, which ought to be duties that should be performed by parents.

The extended work hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 6 days in a week, economic realities, and the proliferation of all-day, weekend-inclusive early learning programs have repositioned schools as the primary environment for early childhood development.

For a typical four-year-old, 9.5 hours in school accounts for about 75% of waking weekday time. With Saturday sessions added, the home is reduced to a space for meals, sleep, and brief routines.

The mandate of Early Years teachers has expanded far beyond academics. Current practice requires them to handle physical care, emotional regulation, and behavioral guidance concurrently.

Daily responsibilities include toileting assistance, feeding, conflict mediation, fatigue monitoring, and maintaining individual routines for 15–20 pupils.

The parent-child dynamic shifts when parents deliberately delegate care of the child, and even punishment, to educators. While parents set apart evenings and weekends for practical tasks, like food, homework, and bathing.

Psychologists term it “contact without connection.” Although parents are physically present, time is divided and focused on tasks.

Children are more obedient and organized in class than they are at home, according to teachers. Parents describe the contrary. The pattern shows an expected result: the parent becomes the outlet for exhaustion, while the educator becomes the authority figure.

The labor market triggered the transfer of responsibilities between parents and educators.

Dual-income households are now the norm in major cities, and flexible work remains limited outside tech and finance.

Child caregiver costs compound the issue. Full-time caregiver care often costs almost half of a salary. Parents opt for schools with extended hours in order to kill two birds with one stone.

For educational centers, extended-day programs create parent-like responsibilities, and staffing, training, and compensation should reflect that. In leading centers, professional development in attachment theory and stress management is becoming standard.

For parents, the emphasis should be on quality rather than quantity.

Policymakers are beginning to prioritize employment rules that permit parental presence during early childhood and accessible, flexible daycare. Strong early attachment is associated with higher scholastic success and fewer behavioral problems in later life.

The Early Years teacher and the parents have not replaced each other. Both parties are only responding to a system that demands more hours in the workplace with fewer hours at home.

There has been a paradigm shift in the upbringing of children. The teachers now perform functions once meant for the family unit.

Intentional parenting inside the small windows has been left in the hands of caregivers.

Instead of the classroom remaining a place of learning, it has become the only home children know.

Ohore Emmanuel Ufuoma
Is an MBA student at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Turkey

News Special Report

AXA Mansard Partners with Lagos DSVA to Raise Awareness on Child Abuse Prevention

by Women Times on May 14, 2026

AXA Mansard has joined forces with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) to intensify efforts in raising awareness and preventing domestic and sexual violence against children through community-driven sensitisation campaigns across Lagos.

This initiative is part of the 2026 AXA Week for Good, themed “Being A Child Shouldn’t Be A Risk,” which aims to enhance public education, promote reporting of abuse cases, and bolster child protection measures at the grassroots level.

As part of the partnership, employee volunteers from AXA Mansard Insurance Plc will engage in door-to-door community outreach in collaboration with the Lagos State DSVA, which will offer technical support, training, and guidance throughout the campaign.

The company stated that the programme builds on the success of its 2025 collaboration with the agency, which focused on school-based interventions to educate children and teachers on domestic and sexual violence.

Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, explained that this year’s campaign targets families, parents, caregivers, and community leaders, emphasising that statistics show most abuse cases occur within homes and among people familiar to children.

According to her, over 60 per cent of domestic and sexual violence cases involving children are linked to individuals known to them, making community awareness and mobilisation critical in tackling the issue.

She added that the initiative would cover six communities, where volunteers would educate residents on recognising abuse, reporting channels, and safe parenting practices.

Surakat highlighted that AXA Mansard has continued to invest in social advocacy against domestic and sexual violence because organisations have a responsibility to contribute to building safer societies where they operate.

She noted that in 2025, approximately 96 per cent of the company’s employees dedicated at least 30 minutes of their working hours to volunteer activities aimed at raising awareness on domestic and sexual violence.

Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, emphasised that domestic and sexual violence often persists in silence, ignorance, and fear, and stressed the importance of ongoing public education and community involvement.

Vivour-Adeniyi praised AXA Mansard for maintaining its partnership, highlighting that safeguarding children requires a collective effort involving government, the private sector, and members of the public.

She explained that taking advocacy directly into communities would empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge to identify warning signs, protect vulnerable children, and report abuse cases promptly.

AXA Week for Good is the flagship programme under AXA Mansard’s employee volunteering initiative, AXA Hearts in Action, which saw employees contribute over 20,000 volunteer hours in 2025.

Special Report News

Polaris Bank Positions Gender Equity as Growth Strategy at IWD 2026

by Women Times on March 26, 2026

Polaris Bank has reinforced its commitment to deepen gender equity as a business and growth imperative during its 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) event, spotlighting sustained investments in women’s empowerment, financial inclusion, and leadership development. In line with this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” highlighting a call to action for accelerating gender equality through generosity, collaboration,and investment in women. The speakers emphasized intentional contribution as a catalyst for collective progress.
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Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO, Kayode Lawal, underscored the strategic value of the theme, “Gender Equity as a Business Imperative: The Give to Gain Advantage.” He noted that investing in women delivers measurable returns for institutions and economies alike.

According to Lawal, empowering women remains a core pillar of Polaris Bank’s long-term strategy, reflected in its support for women-led businesses through targeted financing, enterprise advisory and capacity-building initiatives.

The Polaris CEO also highlighted the Bank’s sustained advocacy in breast cancer advocacy and screening and early detection, as well as its contributions to girl-child education and inclusive workplace policies.

He added that the Bank’s flagship proposition, *Polaris Pearl*, continues to provide tailored financial solutions and growth platforms for women professionals and entrepreneurs. He called for more deliberate action across sectors, stressing that inclusive systems ultimately drive stronger institutions and societies.

Delivering keynote insights, Tomi Somefun, the immediate past MD/CEO of Unity Bank described gender equity as a critical lever for organizational performance, urging institutions to move beyond rhetoric to structured action.

She emphasized that enabling women to contribute fully is not a social obligation but a pathway to better decision-making, innovation, and long-term resilience.

Also speaking, Belinda Nkechi Indinmachi, a social entrepreneur challenged the GenZs to adopt a more strategic approach to value creation, noting that purposeful contribution and long-term thinking are essential for sustainable career and business growth. She encouraged professionals to view “giving” as an investment that yields tangible returns over time.

In her remarks, Polaris Bank’s Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Abimbola Ozomah, reiterated that the Bank’s focus on women empowerment extends beyond symbolic observance. She noted that initiatives such as the Polaris Women Connect platform are deliberately designed to prepare female professionals for leadership through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and exposure to industry leaders.

Earlier, Bukola Oluyadi, Group Head, Customer Experience & Value Management, set the tone for the engagement, highlighting the importance of collaboration and intentional support systems in driving collective success.

The event also showcased Polaris Bank’s measurable impact in advancing women’s economic participation, including the disbursement of over ₦1 billion in funding to female entrepreneurs, alongside continued investments in financial literacy and enterprise development.

Polaris Bank reaffirmed that its commitment to empowering women remains anchored on deliberate action and inclusive growth strategies that position women as key drivers of economic transformation.

Special Report Women & Business

5 Wealth-Building Strategies for Nigerian Women-led Businesses

by Women Times on March 25, 2026

By Chinwe Iwobi, Head of Wealth Management, FairMoney Microfinance Bank

In Nigeria, women are the backbone of our economy. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that women own approximately 40% of small and medium-sized enterprises across the country (NBS Country Data Overview 2023). Yet despite their outsized contribution to GDP, women-led businesses continue to face systemic barriers to the capital and financial infrastructure needed to scale.

The cost of that gap is not abstract. When these entrepreneurs are held back, the ripple effect runs deep, from household stability to the education of the next generation. But the narrative is shifting. Nigerian women are proving, consistently, that they are not just resilient; they are sophisticated, high-earning innovators building businesses that deserve serious financial strategy.

Here are five foundational strategies every women-led business should be deploying to build lasting, generational wealth.

1. Separate Business and Personal Finances Without Exception

Mixing personal funds with business cash is one of the most common and most damaging financial habits I see among growing entrepreneurs. It obscures your true profit margins, makes tax planning nearly impossible and, critically, disqualifies you from accessing formal credit when you need it most.

The discipline of separation is not just administrative. It is the first signal you send to the financial system that your business is serious. Open a dedicated business account, maintain clean transaction records, and treat your business finances with the same rigour you would expect from any enterprise operating at scale. Clarity on your numbers is the foundation on which every other strategy here depends.

2. Build Both an Emergency Fund and an Opportunity Fund

Most financial advice stops at the emergency fund, which is three to six months of operating expenses set aside for lean periods. That is necessary, but insufficient. The entrepreneurs I have watched grow most aggressively also maintain what I call an opportunity fund: accessible liquidity specifically reserved to move fast when a prime supplier deal, an expansion location, or a bulk inventory discount appears.

In an unpredictable market like Nigeria’s, the businesses that scale are rarely the ones with the best products alone. They are the ones with the financial readiness to act decisively. Products like FairMoney’s FairSave are designed precisely for this, keeping your funds accessible while earning competitive daily interest so your idle cash is working even when you are not. Build both buffers, and build them before you think you need them.

3. Invest Profits Back into Revenue-Generating Assets

Surplus cash sitting in a current account is a slow leak. Inflation erodes it and opportunity costs compound quietly. The discipline here is to consistently channel profits back into assets that grow your revenue capacity, whether that is new equipment, improved technology, better inventory systems, or staff training.

For capital you do not need immediately, consider locking it into a fixed-term savings product that offers higher interest returns. The psychological benefit is as important as the financial one: ring-fencing that capital removes it from day-to-day spending temptation and ensures it is preserved and grown for a defined purpose. Discipline in capital allocation separates businesses that plateau from those that compound.

4. Diversify Your Revenue Streams Intentionally

Single-stream businesses are inherently fragile. If your sole revenue source is disrupted by market shifts, a supply chain breakdown, or a change in consumer behaviour, your entire operation is exposed. Resilience is built by design, not by accident.

If you are in retail, consider adding a service-based arm. If you are service-led, explore whether digital products or training offerings could create passive income alongside your core work. Beyond product diversification, consider how you accept payments. Building a verified, diverse transaction history through formal payment channels also quietly strengthens your credit profile, an asset that pays dividends when you approach lenders for growth financing. FairMoney’s Business POS infrastructure, for instance, allows entrepreneurs to expand their payment reach while simultaneously building that financial track record.

5. Invest Beyond the Business

This is the strategy most women entrepreneurs delay for too long, and it is the one I feel most strongly about. Relying entirely on your business for your net worth is a high-risk position, no matter how well that business is performing. Businesses face cycles; personal wealth should not.

As your business stabilises, begin systematically moving a portion of your profits into personal investment vehicles such as long-term savings accounts, money market funds, or other instruments that sit entirely outside the business cycle. Automate it if you can, so the decision is made once and executed consistently. The goal is to build a personal financial foundation that remains intact regardless of what your business goes through in any given quarter. True wealth is not what your business is worth on paper. It is what you own independently of it.

The Bigger Picture

For female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, wealth-building is not simply a personal ambition; it is an economic argument. When women-led businesses scale, communities stabilise, households invest in education, and local economies deepen. The strategies above are not complicated, but they require consistency and the right financial infrastructure to execute well.

The tools exist. The opportunity is real. What remains is the decision to treat your business, and your personal wealth, with the long-term seriousness both deserve.

Special Report

First Hall of Fame Life Coach Launches First Afrocentric Coaching Framework Grounded in Ubuntu Philosophy

by Women Times on March 19, 2026

Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, the first inductee into the Life Coaches Hall of Fame and a respected Advisory Board Member of the Life Coaches Association of Nigeria, has unveiled The Veneer Principle™️ – the world’s first comprehensive Afrocentric coaching framework designed for diagnostic assessment.

This groundbreaking achievement is the culmination of thirty-plus years of dedicated work, tracing back to her Deep Release (Underneath The Veneer) column in City People Magazine (2006–2007), which examined the disparity between outward appearances and inner realities for women navigating mental health, personal challenges, and high achievement.

Laila has been applying these principles informally for years in her role as a leadership trainer, specialising in governance and cultural transformation. “I’ve witnessed firsthand how integrating cultural context and Ubuntu values creates deeper, more sustainable impact in organisational work,” she explains. “Now I’m formalising that methodology so other coaches and consultants can apply it systematically.”

“Most coaching frameworks are built on Western, individualistic models,” she observes. “They don’t account for the cultural context, collective identity, and family dynamics that shape how African and diaspora clients navigate their lives. This framework changes that.”

The Veneer Principle offers coaches and therapists practical tools to recognise and address the often exhausting gap between what clients project outwardly and what lies beneath the surface – with cultural sensitivity at its core. It equips practitioners to identify when clients are performing rather than genuinely being themselves, even when they appear successful and capable. It deepens their understanding of the cultural forces shaping behaviour – code-switching, Ubuntu values, and collective identity – and enables them to work with genuine competence alongside African and diaspora clients navigating multiple worlds. Practitioners gain immediate access to proven diagnostic tools, including reproducible worksheets, pattern recognition guides, and real case studies, all while being encouraged to honour warmth and empathy as professional strengths rather than clinical distance.

“The veneer for many of our clients includes navigating predominantly non-African spaces and balancing traditional family expectations with modern pressures,” says Laila. “Healing is not just individual – it’s relational. Ubuntu teaches us ‘I am because we are.’ That perspective has been missing from most coaching frameworks.”

The Veneer Principle™️ is the first instalment of the broader three-part Underneath The Veneer Methodology, currently in development and set for release soon – extending the framework into a complete system for culturally grounded coaching practice, professional training, and organisational development.

The framework responds to growing demand from two key groups: African and diaspora coaches seeking culturally grounded methodologies that reflect their values, and non-African coaches working with African clients who need greater cultural competence. “I’ve had clients share that cultural understanding isn’t a bonus – it’s a baseline requirement. They need a coach who truly understands the cultural nuances shaping their decisions and outcomes – someone who can meet them in their full context,” shares Laila.

The workbook is available for download on Selar.

About Laila St. Matthew-Daniel

Laila St. Matthew-Daniel is an Executive Coach, Leadership Facilitator, therapist, and the first inductee into the Life Coaches Hall of Fame of LCAN (2025). With thirty-plus years of experience, she is a sought-after speaker and author on leadership and personal development, and the founder of ACTS Generation GBV, an organisation advocating against domestic violence and promoting women’s rights.

News Health Special Report

Wearing padded bras may cause nipple dryness, say experts

by Women Times on November 12, 2025

By Prosper Mene

In the quest for the perfect silhouette, millions of women worldwide turn to padded bras for that seamless, confidence-boosting lift. But what if the very padding designed to smooth and conceal is quietly wreaking havoc on one of the body’s most sensitive areas?

Experts are sounding the alarm: prolonged use of padded bras could be contributing to nipple dryness, irritation, and long-term discomfort, urging a rethink on everyday lingerie choices.

The warning comes amid growing awareness of how everyday undergarments interact with delicate skin. Dr. Elyse Love, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, explains that while padded bras offer aesthetic benefits, like preventing nipple show-through on thin fabrics, they can trap moisture and create friction against the nipples. “The added layers can reduce airflow, leading to dryness, chafing, or even exacerbated conditions like eczema in prone individuals,” she notes. This isn’t just anecdotal; medical sources corroborate that ill-fitting or overly restrictive bras, including padded varieties, are a common culprit for nipple soreness and dryness, especially during hormonal shifts or in dry climates.

At the heart of the issue is biology meets fashion. Nipples, rich in nerve endings and sebaceous glands, rely on natural oils and ventilation to stay hydrated. Padded bras, often made with synthetic foams and fabrics, can disrupt this balance by compressing tissue and limiting breathability. A recent health advisory in Nigeria highlighted this exact concern, quoting experts who link constant padding to not just dryness but potential sagging from undue pressure on breast tissues.a00830 “It’s like wearing a cozy sweater on a summer day—comfortable at first, but it builds up heat and irritation over time,” adds Dr. Ayesha Haque, another dermatology specialist.

The ripple effects extend beyond aesthetics. Women report itchy, cracked skin that worsens with sweat or hormonal cycles, sometimes mimicking symptoms of thrush or contact dermatitis.

For active individuals, the problem intensifies during workouts, where motion amplifies chafing. Fitness enthusiasts on forums like Reddit echo this frustration, with many ditching padding for lighter alternatives to avoid the “pokey” discomfort that backfires into dryness. Even broader risks lurk: some padded bras contain trace chemicals like formaldehyde, flagged as potential irritants or carcinogens by consumer watchdogs, though regulators maintain they’re safe in low doses.

Not all experts agree on the severity, some, like lingerie designer Lily Flast of Soutien NYC, argue that well-fitted padded bras are harmless for most and preferable to chafing from unpadded options.

However, the consensus leans toward moderation. “Rotate your bras and prioritize cotton or moisture-wicking materials,” advises the Cleveland Clinic, recommending over-the-counter lanolin creams or petroleum jelly for relief. For those with persistent issues, a dermatologist visit is key to rule out underlying conditions.

As lingerie brands race to innovate, think seamless, ventilated paddings and eco-friendly foams consumers are empowered to demand better. Sarah Thompson, a 32-year-old marketing executive from Lagos, swapped her daily padded routine for wireless alternatives six months ago. “My nipples haven’t felt this soft in years,” she shares. “It’s a small change with big payoffs.”

This story serves as a gentle nudge: comfort isn’t just about the fit—it’s about listening to your skin. Next time you reach for that padded push-up, pause and ask: Is it lifting you up, or holding you back?

News Special Report

Nigeria Mourns: Hajiya Saratu Shagari, Last Surviving Wife of Ex-President Shehu Shagari, Passes at 89

by Women Times on November 10, 2025

By Prosper Mene

The Shagari family, one of Nigeria’s most revered political dynasties, is in mourning today following the death of Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari, the last surviving wife of the late former President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari. The matriarch, aged 89, passed away peacefully at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time after a prolonged illness, marking the end of an era for a woman who embodied quiet resilience amid the turbulence of national leadership.

In a heartfelt statement released this evening, Capt. Muhammad Bala Shagari (retd.), the late president’s eldest son and Sarkin Mafaran Shagari, announced the loss: “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari, the last surviving wife of former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, GCFR, Turakin Sokoto.” He described her as “an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength; a devoted mother, grandmother, and matriarch who lived a life defined by dignity and compassion.”

Hajiya Saratu’s life was inextricably linked to her husband’s illustrious yet tumultuous political journey. Born into a prominent Fulani family in northern Nigeria, she married Shehu Shagari in the early 1950s, becoming a steadfast pillar during his rise through the ranks of Nigerian politics. Shagari, a founding member of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and later the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), served as Nigeria’s first democratically elected executive president from 1979 to 1983. His administration navigated the young democracy through economic challenges, including the global oil glut, while championing infrastructure projects and educational reforms.

Yet, Hajiya Saratu’s role extended far beyond the public eye. As First Lady, she maintained a low-profile grace, focusing on family, philanthropy, and Islamic charity work. She supported women’s education initiatives in Sokoto State and quietly advocated for family welfare during her husband’s tenure. Following the military coup that ousted Shagari on December 31, 1983, led by then-Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the couple retreated to their hometown of Shagari village in Sokoto State. There, Hajiya Saratu cared for her family through years of house arrest and political exile, until Shagari’s death in 2018 at age 93.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across Nigeria’s political spectrum. A grandson, Bello Bala Shagari, shared on social media: “We lost our matriarch, the only surviving wife of our late grandfather, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari. May her gentle soul rest in eternal peace.”

Political figures, including representatives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have expressed condolences, hailing her as a symbol of enduring dignity in public service.

Details of funeral arrangements, expected to follow Islamic rites, will be announced shortly by the family. The burial is anticipated in Shagari village, drawing dignitaries from across the nation to honor a life that bridged Nigeria’s transition from colonial rule to independence and beyond.

Hajiya Saratu’s legacy of unwavering support, faith, and modesty, serves as a reminder of the unsung heroes behind the headlines.

News Special Report

IGP Egbetokun Lets Women Officers Run All Police Offices on December 4

by Women Times on November 5, 2025

By Prosper Mene

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has given the go-ahead for women officers to take full control of all police management offices on December 4, 2025.

This one-day event, called “Women in Blue Leadership Day,” is a major move to support women in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and show they can lead just as well as men.

The order came from Police Headquarters in Abuja. It tells every zone, state, and local police station to let female officers run things for the whole day. They will make decisions, manage staff, and handle daily police work in place of male officers.

“This is a real chance to show what our women can do,” IGP Egbetokun said. “They have worked hard for years. On December 4, everyone will see their skills and get inspired.”

The plan fits with other changes Egbetokun has made since 2023, like better training and fighting corruption. Women now make up about 15% of the police force, but very few hold top jobs. This day gives them a chance to prove themselves.

Officers like Deputy Commissioner Aisha Bello, who fights cybercrime in Lagos, and Superintendent Fatima Yusuf, who works against terrorism in the Northeast, will take charge. “This day shows our hard work matters,” SP Yusuf said. “We want to open doors for more women.”

Across the country, the day will include talks, school visits, and online meetings. Women leaders will speak about stopping violence against women and girls and encourage young people to join the police.

Why It Matters

Supporters say this will help the police do better. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised the IGP on social media: “Great job! When women lead, everyone wins. #WomenInBlue.” Groups that fight for women’s rights are happy too.

Still, problems remain. Some women face unfair treatment at work. The police promise to check these issues and make real changes after the event.

On December 4, women in the NPF will show Nigeria that strong leadership comes in every form.