President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Awolowo, is described as a pillar of courage and dignity whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Friday to mark the 10th anniversary of her passing, President Tinubu said the memory of Mama Awolowo remained indelible in the hearts of Nigerians.
‘Ten years may have passed, but the memory of Mama HID Awolowo, the matriarch of the Awolowo family, remains fresh with deep respect in the heart of our nation. Mama Awolowo was a pillar of courage and dignity who stood firmly beside Chief Obafemi Awolowo and carried his legacy with uncommon strength’, the President noted.
The late HID Awolowo, fondly remembered as the ‘Jewel of inestimable value’, was the wife of Nigeria’s foremost nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Widowed in 1987, she carried the mantle of her husband’s towering political and social legacy for nearly three decades until she died in 2015 at the age of 99.
Tinubu extolled her as more than just a spouse and mother, stressing her influence as a national figure.
‘Mama HID was more than a wife and mother. She stood beside Chief Obafemi Awolowo through trials and triumphs, carrying his legacy forward with grace and courage.
‘In doing so, she became a mother not only to her family but also a guiding light for generations of Nigerians who drew inspiration from her example, showing what it means to live with faith, discipline, and love for country’, he said.
The President said her contributions went beyond family, noting that her sacrifices embodied a model of service that Nigerians must continue to uphold.
‘As we remember her today, we celebrate a life of service and sacrifice that continues to inspire us as we work together to build a just, united, and prosperous Nigeria’, Tinubu added.
He concluded with prayers for her enduring memory: ‘May your legacy continue to live on, Mama Awolowo’.
