Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo

Early Life and Background

Mrs Onabanjo was born in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, Nigeria. At about the age of ten she left Ijebu-Ode to attend school in Lagos, being educated under Irish Catholic sisters. She later trained at a Teachers’ Training College in Yaba, Lagos, and chose teaching as her profession.

Marriage and Family

She married Victor Olabisi Onabanjo (often referred to as Bisi Onabanjo), who became the first civilian governor of Ogun State. Their marriage produced four children (two sons and two daughters), though their first daughter pre-deceased them, which she described as a painful loss.

Career and Personal Life

Lucia Onabanjo served for twenty-two years as a teacher before retiring, which she reflected upon as a meaningful choice because it allowed her to balance home and work. In her own words, she felt content with her life: she kept to simple living, ate traditional staple foods, and maintained a low-key domestic environment despite her husband’s high political profile.

She emphasised the importance of home training for children, the need for parents to be present and conscious of upbringing, and was critical of modern trends in which children seem to exert undue influence on their parents.

Roles in Community and Faith

Mrs Onabanjo held the role of “Iya Ijo” (women leader) of St Sebastian Catholic Cathedral, Ijebu‑Ode, her parish church. Her faith played a central part in her life: she expressed gratitude for her long life and attributed her longevity partly to God and partly to her lifestyle choices.

Recognition and Legacy

In October 2020, when she turned 95, the then-Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, felicitated her, honouring her as “a woman with a difference”, a great educator, and a stabilising influence behind her husband.

In October 2025, she turned 100 years old. At that milestone, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged her as “a reflection of grace, wisdom and enduring service” and commended her lifelong devotion, resilience and moral strength.

She is remembered not only as the wife of a prominent governor but as an individual of substance: someone who upheld duty, humility, faith and the value of education.

Values and Perspective

Mrs Onabanjo’s reflections reveal key values:

Simplicity: She preferred a modest home and simple lifestyle rather than opulence.

Education and home leadership: She chose teaching because it fit her desire to be at home with her children, and she emphasised that child-training begins at home.

Faith and contentment: She often stated that she was content and trusted in God for her longevity and peace.

Challenges and Resilience

Life was not without challenges. Her husband was once imprisoned under the regime of Muhammadu Buhari, and afterwards when he needed medical treatment abroad, she recounted how they obtained help through the then-leader Ibrahim Babangida. Through those times she remained steady in her support for family and home.

Summary

Mrs Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo stands as a figure of stability, faith, service and quiet dignity. Her life spans teaching, family devotion, religious leadership and support for a spouse who held public office. But importantly she carved an identity of her own: as educator, matriarch, and mentor to younger generations.