The Untold Story of Stella Obasanjo

Stella Obasanjo, Nigeria’s First Lady from 1999 to 2005, remains one of the least fully told stories of women who stood quietly yet firmly at the heart of the nation’s political life. She passed away in October 2005, just weeks before her 60th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy, compassion, and understated influence.
Born Stella Abebe on 14 November 1945 in Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, she came from a distinguished background. Her father, Dr. Christopher Abebe, was a senior executive of the United Africa Company (UAC) and later made history as the first indigenous (African) chairman of UAC Nigeria.
Stella’s educational journey reflected both discipline and ambition. She began her schooling at Our Lady of the Apostles Primary School and proceeded to St. Theresa’s College, where she earned her West African School Certificate in 1964 with Grade One, followed by a Higher School Certificate two years later.
In 1967, she gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, to study English, attending until 1969. She later relocated to the United Kingdom, where she completed further studies in insurance in London and Edinburgh, Scotland, between 1970 and 1974. She rounded off her formal education in 1976 with a certificate as a confidential secretary from Pitman College.
That same year, Stella returned to Nigeria and married General Olusegun Obasanjo. Their union produced one son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, born in 1977. At the time, Nigeria was in a period of transition, following the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, after which Obasanjo assumed office as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Though often reserved in public, Stella Obasanjo was a political activist in her own right. She championed causes such as women’s liberation, youth empowerment, and the rehabilitation of a nation scarred by civil war and military rule.
Upon becoming First Lady in 1999, following her husband’s election as civilian president, she founded the Child Care Trust, an initiative dedicated to the welfare of underprivileged and disabled children. She also became a vocal advocate against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), aligning Nigeria with global efforts to end the practice. On 6 February 2003, she formally declared the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, marking a significant moment in Nigeria’s gender-rights advocacy.
Her Death
Stella Obasanjo died on 23 October 2005 at a private clinic in Puerto Banús, Marbella, Spain, from complications arising from cosmetic surgery. Her sudden death shocked the nation and brought a quiet end to a life devoted to service, advocacy, and dignity.
She is remembered not only as Nigeria’s First Lady, but as a woman who used her position to amplify the voices of children, women, and the vulnerable—leaving behind a legacy that still resonates today.