Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, widow of Ogun State’s first civilian Governor Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo (1979-1983), has died.
The Onabanjo family announced the passing on Monday, 11th January, 2026, of its matriarch, aged 101.
A statement released on Tuesday, by the wide Onabanjo family expressed “deep sorrow, yet with gratitude to Almighty God” for her long and impactful life.
Born in 1925, she was revered as a matriarch, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
The family’s statement highlighted her “enduring legacy of love, strength, and faith,” thanking God for her fulfilled years.
As the First Lady of Ogun State from 1979 to 1983 during her husband’s tenure, she was a foundational figure in the state’s early democratic history and a constant pillar of support for the former governor.
The family has requested prayers and respect for their privacy during this period of mourning. Funeral arrangements are expected to be communicated in due course.
May her soul rest in perfect peace.
A statement from The Presidency said:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commiserates with the government and people of Ogun State over the passing of the former first lady and matriarch of the Onabanjo family, Chief Lucia Onabanjo.
Lucia Onabanjo passed away at 101 years on Monday, January 12.
The President sympathises with the family, friends, and associates of the late wife of the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo.
President Tinubu notes the compassionate investments of the matriarch in many lives in her community, the state, and the nation, as evidenced by the outpouring of testimonies during her lifetime and after she passed.
“Lucia Onabanjo’s strong support for her husband when he served as Ogun State Governor for four years, 1979-1983, was commendable, and her keen interest on issues of children and empowerment of women was exemplary”, President Tinubu remarks.
“I do not doubt that her legacy of charity and kindness will continue to resonate.
“I urge the Ogun State government and family members to immortalise her by projecting her legacy of love for the poor and vulnerable.
“I pray that the Almighty God will receive Lucia Onabanjo’s soul, and continue to strengthen her family”, President Tinubu adds.
