Stella Obasanjo (née Abebe) (14, Nov. 1945, – 23 Oct 2005)

Early Life and Education

Stella was born on November 14, 1945, in Iruekpen, Esan West, Edo State. She was the eldest of seven children born to Dr. Christopher Abebe—the historic first indigenous African chairman of the United Africa Company (UAC)—and Theresa Abebe, a devout Catholic.

She began her education at Our Lady of the Apostles Primary School in Yaba, Lagos, and later attended St. Theresa’s College in Ibadan. She studied English and Literature at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1967 to 1969 before completing her studies in the United Kingdom. She later trained in insurance in London and Edinburgh, and completed a confidential secretary certification at Pitman College in 1976.

Marriage to Olusegun Obasanjo

Stella met Olusegun Obasanjo when he was still a military officer. They were married in 1976. Although her husband became Nigeria’s military Head of State that same year, she did not serve as the official First Lady during his military regime. Together, they had one son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, born in 1977

Activism and First Lady (1999–2005)

Stella’s public activism became prominent in 1995 when her husband was imprisoned by the Sani Abacha military regime for an alleged coup plot. She campaigned relentlessly worldwide for his release, establishing herself as a courageous voice of conscience.

When Olusegun Obasanjo was democratically elected President in 1999, Stella officially stepped into her role as First Lady. Her tenure was defined by several key initiatives:

• The Child Care Trust: In 2000, she founded the Child Care Trust Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting orphans, underprivileged youths, and children with physical and mental disabilities.
• Anti-FGM Campaigning: She was an ardent opponent of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Her efforts culminated in her declaring February 6, 2003, as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
• Women and Youth Empowerment: She advocated strongly for women’s liberation and urged young Nigerians to embrace leadership opportunities

Tragic Demise and Legacy

Stella Obasanjo died on October 23, 2005, at a clinic in Marbella, Spain, just a few weeks before her 60th birthday. Her death was caused by severe medical complications—including a punctured colon and lacerated liver—suffered during an elective cosmetic liposuction procedure. The tragedy shocked Nigeria and led to a high-profile legal battle in Spain, resulting in the operating surgeon being convicted of negligent homicide in 2009.

Her loss was deeply felt across the nation. Over two decades later, she is still remembered in Nigeria as a trailblazing First Lady who used her proximity to power to fight passionately for the vulnerable

Source: wikipedia