Turai Umar Musa Yar'Adua (born 26 July 1957) is the widow of the former

Nigerian president The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Nigeria ...

and former

Katsina State Katsina State ''(Hausa: Jihar Katsina) (Fula: Leydi Katsina 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤳𞤢𞥁𞤭𞤲𞤢)'' is a state in the northwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Katsina State was created in 1987, when it split from Kaduna State. Today, K ...

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (16 August 19515 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who, was the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He was declared the winner of the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2 ...

. She was the

First Lady of Nigeria The first lady of Nigeria is an informal, but accepted title, held by the wife of the president of Nigeria. The current First Lady, first lady is Oluremi Tinubu who has held the title since 29 May 2023. The Constitution of Nigeria does not creat ...

from 2007 until the death of her husband on 5 May 2010.

Education

Turai Yar'Adua was born in the Katsina metropolitan area of northern Nigeria in July 1957. She attended Garama Primary School in Katsina as a child and proceeded to the Government Girls Secondary School, Kankiya, also in Katsina state. Turai Yar'Adua also attended Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology in

Zaria Zaria is a List of Nigerian cities by population, metropolitan city in Nigeria which at the present time lies within four (4) local government areas in Kaduna State, Kaduna state; it happens to be the capital city to the Zazzau, Zazzau Emirate ...

, Kaduna state, where she was reportedly named "best student" in 1980. In 1983, Turai Yar'Adua received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in language from

Ahmadu Bello University Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, A ...

Personal life

Turai married Umaru Yar'Adua in 1975 and they have five daughters and two sons. Her two sons are Shehu Umaru Musa Yar'adua and Musa Umar Musa Yar'adua. Shehu is the name of Umaru Yar'adua's elder brother and former de facto vice president of Nigeria,

Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (5 March 1943 – 8 December 1997) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who was the ''de facto'' vice president of Nigeria as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters when Nigeria was under military rule from 1976 to ...

. One of their daughters, Zainab, is married to

Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari Usman Sa'idu Nasamu Dakingari (born 13 September 1959) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Kebbi State from 2007 to 2015. He was elected governor in April 2007, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic ...

, a former governor of Kebbi state. In September 2007, Turai was the guest of honour at the commissioning of the Mobility Aid and Braille Centre in

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as at the 2006 population census. History Pre 1914 Rock engravings dating back to the Mesolithic period, ha ...

Ondo State Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...

. The centre was built by the Handicapped Education Foundation (HANDEF), a non-governmental organization founded by Olufunke Agagu, then First Lady of Ondo State. Also, in attendance at the event were the Vice President's wife, Patience Jonathan, and the wives of other state governors. Turai was rumored to be one of her husband's closest advisors during his tenure as president of Nigeria. For example, it was believed that Turai Yar'Adua influenced the choice of Professor

Babatunde Osotimehin Babatunde Osotimehin (6 February 1949 – 4 June 2017) was a Nigerian physician, who served as Minister of Health, and in 2011 became the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, holding the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the ...

, the former Director-General of the National Action Committee on AIDS, as Nigeria's

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

, during her husband's administration. Turai started her career as a teacher, before assuming the role of Katsina state's first lady, serving from 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007, where she was noted for her empathy towards the plight of the less privileged. Turai Yar’Adua visited the current First Lady, Mrs.

Aisha Buhari Aisha Halilu Buhari (born 17 February 1971) is the First Lady of Nigeria and wife of the current President Muhammadu Buhari, who assumed office on 29 May 2015 after defeating the then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Aisha Buhari is a c ...

at the presidential villa, Abuja, early February of the year, 2020. The former first lady came visiting with her daughter, Mrs Zainab Dakingari. The president’s wife, who personally broke the news on her Instagram page disclosed that the two of them discussed gender-based violence, drug abuse, and the development of the country generally. Mrs. Buhari, who also shared the pictures of the visit on her page, added that she got Mrs. Yar’Adua’s perspectives on the issues, adding that Mrs. Yar’Adua reminisced on the past, especially the years she spent at the State House.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yar'Adua, Turai Living people Nigerian Muslims First ladies of Nigeria People from Katsina State Ahmadu Bello University alumni 1957 births Turai