Behold, brand-new first ladies!

Most Nigerians are wondering what the next four years will be like and perhaps who the women on the political scene are, including the wife (or wives) of their respective governors-elect. Some of them are not in the public eye and hardly have a picture on the internet, arguably new faces on the political scene. “Look at me, a scarcely known person and now a first lady,” were the words of Plateau State’s next first lady, Regina Simon Lalong, while reviewing her new social status with her close friends who called at the home of the Lalongs in Jos, in the wake of her husband’s victory last Saturday.
Standing by their husbands, these women are part of this history in-the-making. And where there’s a first lady, there will be a pet project. Hajiya Amina Abubakar Sani Bello, wife of the governor-elect of Niger State, has the desire for contributing to the development of primary healthcare centres.
Like Abubakar, Dr. Linda Ugwuye Ayade, wife to Cross River State governor-elect is passionate about healthcare, too, and believes that “health of the public should be of paramount interest to any well-meaning government.”        
Hadiza el-Rufai, wife of the governor-elect of Kaduna State, says her role is to support her husband and believes the position of wife of the governor should be purely ceremonial. “I don’t believe a first lady should dabble into the affairs of running the government,” she says. Then in Delta State, Dame Edith Okowa, wife of Delta State governor-elect, fasted 90 days for her husband’s win.
Potentially the most interesting scenario would be that which may obtain in Taraba State, if Senator Jummai Alhassan wins the re-run scheduled next week, April 25. Will Nigerians have their first female governor and as a result a ‘First Gentleman’? Whichever way it is looked at, the brand-new state first ladies will bring with them enthusiasm, freshness and vibrancy.
Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom Wike (Rivers State)
Born on 24 May, 1972, she is wife to Rivers State governor-elect.  She holds a Masters degree in Law from University of Sussex, United Kingdom by virtue of the prestigious British Chevening scholarship. Between 1998 to 2001, she was a legal counsel litigant with E.C. Ukala and Co and later appointed a Magistrate grade, her last appointment being Chief Magistrate grade 11 in 2009, until her present appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State on 14 February 2012 where she is presently the presiding Judge. She enjoys travelling, cooking, reading, and listening to classic music.
Mrs. Eunice Erdoo Ortom (Benue State)
The incoming First Lady of Benue State was born in 1972. The mother of five was awarded a second degree from the Benue State University (Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies) in 2004. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate degree in Political Science with and specialising in Industrial Development in same university. She works as a public servant in the Office of the Head of Civil Service. She was ordained a Child Evangelist in 1997 with Children Evangelist Ministries (CEM) and today is a Worker in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.  
Mrs. Bolanle Patience Ambode (Lagos State)
She is wife to Lagos State’s governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Born on 15 February 1964, she obtained her Bachelors and Masters’ degrees from the Lagos State University in 1989 and 1994 respectively, majoring in Physics/Mathematics and Public Administration. She worked for over 10 years in various sectors of the economy, including banking, finance and consulting before going into private business.
Dr. Hafsatu Umar Ganduje (Kano State)
The wife of the incoming governor of Kano State is not well-known in public. An indigene of Malam Madori local government area of Jigawa State, she was born 57 years ago, blessed with seven children and is the only wife of the governor-elect. Until recently, she was a principal at a school in the Federal Capital Territory. She took a leave of absence to pursue a PhD doctorate degree programme in Education Psychology at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) a programme she has since completed. If her husband follows the path of the outgoing governor, Dr. Hafsatu who is a director in the Ganduje Foundation, a philanthropic organisation in the state, may not be seen in public throughout her husband’s tenure.     
Hadiza el-Rufai (Kaduna State)
Born in Kano and raised in Kaduna, Mrs. Hadiza el-Rufai is a graduate of Architecture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. Two years ago she bagged an MA in Creative Writing in the United Kingdom.
Regina Lalong (Plateau State)
The daughter of Mr. Waklem, a former Accountant-General in Plateau State, Mrs. Regina Lalong has an HND in Public Administration from Plateau State Polytechnic and is described as either a housewife or a businesswoman.
Dr. Linda Ugwuye Ayade (Cross River State)
The wife of the newly elected governor of Cross River State is Dr. Linda Ugwuye Ayade. She was born on 23 December and hails from Obudu LGA of Cross River State. Between her and her husband, they have three children. She holds an MBBS from the University of Port Harcourt and an MPH from University of Wolverhampton, majoring in Health Improvement and Health Promotion. She is also a member of Nigeria Medical Association and General Medical Council of United Kingdom. Until 2014 she worked with the National Health Society in the UK.
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu (Kebbi State)
She is wife to Kebbi State governor-elect. Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu is a Consultant Paediatrician and doubles as both the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medicaid Radio-diagnostics, Abuja. She also worked at the Garki Hospital as a Consultant Paediatrician. She is one of the children of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi who was the head of the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) during former President Shehu Shagari’s administration in the 1980s. She describes herself as someone who is politically aware.
Mariya Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State)
Mariya Aminu Tambuwal is a younger sister to Senator Abdallah Wali, immediate-past Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, who was also the opposition candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against her husband, Speaker of the House of Reps, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, in the just-concluded governorship race. She hails from Sanyinna District in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Hajiya Maryam Muhammad Jibrilla (Adamawa)
This Katsina State-born lady is wife to Adamawa State governor-elect. She attended Kaduna Capital School and Federal Government College, Bakori before proceeding to Bayero University, Kano where she obtained Bsc. in Political Science. She also holds a Masters in Business Administration and a diploma in Computer and Graphic Design from a British university.
Hajia Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi State)
Though her father was from Katsina State, Hajia Hadiza was born on 11 December 1958 in Kano State. She attended Government Girls College, Dala, Kano and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria where she obtained an M.A in Public Administration and B.A (Hons) Literature. She retired as a Director in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after 21 years and also worked in NTA for 10 years. She got married to the governor-elect in 1979 and they are blessed with five children.
Hajiya Binta Masari (Katsina State)
The governor-elect of Katsina State, Bello Masari, has three wives, namely Hajiya Binta, Hajiya Hadiza and Hajiya Sakiya. Hajiya Binta was the most visible during campaigns and hails from Kofar Soro in Katsina local government, while Hajiya Sakiya is from Kofar Bai of the same state. Weekly Trust learnt Hajiya Hadiza (another wife) had in the past worked with IPAD. All the wives are into business.
Dame Edith Okowa (Delta State)
This career teacher and mother of four rose through the ranks, until a couple of years back when she was appointed as Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Basic and Secretary Education. Mrs. Okowa has committed herself to public service in her Ministry and her devotion to divine service to God at the Master Care Fellowship, where she serves behind the incumbent First Lady and wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan.
Chief Rachel Umahi (Ebonyi State)
Born 23 March, 1972, in Umuobuna Uburu in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Umahi is a graduate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology from 2001 to 2004.  The mother of seven has been active in orphanage and less-privileged schemes and with widows. Her hobbies are travelling and reading novels.