Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi

Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguyi-Ironsi (21 November 1923 – 23 August 2021) was the second First Lady of Nigeria from 16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966.[1]

Lady
Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi
First Lady of Nigeria
In role
16 January 1966 – 29 July 1966
Head of StateJohnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Preceded byFlora Azikiwe
Succeeded byVictoria Gowon
Personal details
Born
Victoria Nwanyiocha

(1923-11-21)21 November 1923
British Nigeria
Died23 August 2021(2021-08-23) (aged 97)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1966)​
Children8

She was the widow of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi who was the first Nigerian military head of state, he was killed in Ibadan[2] in a counter coup led by Murtala Muhammed which led to the installation of General Yakubu Gowon.[3]

Biography

She hailed from Ohokobo Afara in Umuahia North Local Government Area.[4] She married Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as a student of Holy Rosary Convent School, Okigwe in 1953.[5][6]

Following the death of Samuel Ademulegun and his wife, she moved his children from Kaduna to Lagos and cared for them.[7]

She had 8 children who were taken away and cared for by nuns in Ibadan under the direction of Adekunle Fajuyi during the Nigerian Civil War.[8]

She served as a commissioner of the Local Government Services Commission in Umuahia.[8]

The advent of the office of the First Lady of Nigeria came with Ironsi.[9] Aguiyi-Ironsi brought prestige to the office. She was often garbed in traditional outfits and her style was described as "pretty and effortlessly regal".[5]

Aguiyi-Ironsi died on 23 August 2021, at the age of 97, after suffering from a stroke and COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.[10][11]

References
  1. "Nigeria's First Ladies". This Day. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  2. Okon-Ekong, Nseobong (2010-10-02). "Nigeria: First Ladies - Colourful Brilliance, Gaudy Rays". Thisday. AllAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  3. "Of Flora, Victoria and Mariam". Vanguard News. 2017-10-07. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  4. Njoku, Lawrence (2021-08-24). "As former first lady, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi submits to death". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  5. "First Ladies of style". Punch Nigeria. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  6. "Ironsi and military interregnum - The Nation Nigeria News". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  7. Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87586-708-3.
  8. "I have seen heaven, I have seen hell, Johnny knew I could never remarry, says Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  9. Adamu, Ladi Sandra (1995). Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello: The Unsung Heroine. Adams Books. ISBN 978-978-31977-1-8.
  10. "First Nigerian Head of State's wife, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi is dead". 23 August 2021.
  11. "'Woman of valour' — Buhari mourns Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, former first lady". TheCable. 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
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