Hannah Awolowo

Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (née Adelana; 25 November 1915 – 19 September 2015), popularly known as HID,[1] was a Nigerian businesswoman and politician.

Chief
Hannah Awolowo
Spouse of the Premier of the Western Region
In office
1 October 1954 – 1 October 1960
Succeeded byFaderera Aduke Akintola
Personal details
Born
Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana

(1915-11-25)25 November 1915
Ikenne, British Nigeria
Died19 September 2015(2015-09-19) (aged 99)
Resting placeIkenne, Ogun State, Nigeria
Political partyUPN (1978–1983)
Other political
affiliations		Action Group (1950–1966)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1937; died 1987)​
Children5
Relatives
EducationMethodist Girls' High School
Occupation
  • Businesswoman
  • politician

Biography

Born to a modest family in the small Ikenne community of Ogun State in Nigeria, she attended Methodist Girls' High School in Lagos.[2] She was married to politician Obafemi Awolowo from 26 December 1937 to his death in 1987.[3] He famously referred to her as his "jewel of inestimable value". She was also a successful businesswoman[4] and astute politician. She played an active role in the politics of Western Nigeria. She stood in for her husband in the alliance formed between the NCNC and the AG, called the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), while he was tried and in jail.

The plans were that she would contest the elections, and if she won, would step down for her husband in a by-election. To fulfil his dream of becoming president in the Second Republic, she toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning. She also coordinated the women's wing of the party and was always present at all party caucuses. A successful businesswoman, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957. She was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria.

In addition to a variety of other titles, she held the chieftaincy of the Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland. On 19 September 2015, she died at the age of 99 just over 2 months short of her 100th birthday.[5][6][7] She was buried beside her husband in Ikenne on 25 November 2015.[8] The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, is married to her granddaughter, Dolapo Soyode.[9]

References
  1. Oyetimi, Kehinde (23 November 2010). "Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo(HID) clocks 95 on Thursday". Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  2. Odoshimokhe, Musa (25 November 2015). "How Awolowo met, married HID". The Nation. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. Adeniyi, Tola (1993). The Jewel: the Biography of Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo. Gemini Press. ISBN 978-978-31953-0-1.
  4. "How HID Awolowo died | Premium Times Nigeria". 20 September 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  5. Bada, Gbenga (19 September 2015). "Late politician's wife dies at 99". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. Awoyinfa, Samuel. "Mama died in my arms – Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu". The Punch. Nigeria. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  7. Nwokolo, Earnest (20 September 2015). "H. I. D. Awolowo 1915–2015 'Mama died singing, praying'". The Nation. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  8. Olatunji, Daud (27 November 2015). "Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo: Buried in grand style". The Vanguard. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  9. "Good Books Africa". Goodbooksafrica.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
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