Ajoke Muhammed
WOMAN WARRIOR ON WEDNESDAY; AJOKE MUHAMMED
Nigeria’s former First Lady, Her late husband, General Murtala Muhammed was the head of state from 1975 to 1976. She was born on May 23, 1941. Started her professional journey as a Dental Therapist during her early life and is currently the Vice President of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, an institution set up to tackle policy advocacy, education, human rights, women empowerment, disaster relief and betterment of the lives of Africans.
She has selflessly devoted her life to issues involving environmental sustainability and preservation. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Memorial Botanical Gardens in Lagos, a worthy monument she set up to immortalize her late husband. She also established the largest Botanical Garden in Abuja, owning the largest collection of plants in Nigeria, where more than 2,000 trees, shrubs and many plants going into extinction are conserved.
She championed the Green Belt Movement of Nigeria which is currently involved in tree planting and other poverty alleviation programs in Lagos State.
Mother of a nation builder, Aisha Mohammed Oyebode, who is a dedicated philanthropist, retail mogul who serves as a member of various boards and has championed human rights initiatives and girl child development.
A successful businesswoman pioneer who began importing and trading in laces, which became a lucrative business in the 70s and 80s. She owned the largest retail jeweler store in Nigeria and later worked on extensive real estate projects.
