Biography of Margaret Obi, Wife of Peter Obi

Margaret Obi is the wife of Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election. She is a businesswoman, a philanthropist, and a child advocate who has made significant contributions to the empowerment of women and the protection of children’s rights in Nigeria.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Obi was born Margaret Brownson Usen on September 9, 1974, in Akwa Ibom State, in the south part of Nigeria. She is from a prominent family in the state and attended the prestigious Queen’s College in Lagos for her secondary education. She later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Marriage and Family

Margaret Obi met Peter Obi through a mutual friend when they were both ready for marriage. They got married in 1992 in a low-key church wedding ceremony in London, where Peter Obi was based at the time. The couple has been married for over 30 years and has two children: Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi and Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi.

Margaret Obi has been a supportive partner to her husband throughout his political career. She accompanied him on the campaign trail during the 2023 presidential election, traversing every part of the country to solicit votes for him and his running mate. She also played a key role in his National Gender Affirmative Action initiative, which aimed to ensure that at least 50% of employment slots in his administration were given to women.

Business and Philanthropy

Margaret Obi is a successful businesswoman who runs several enterprises in different sectors of the economy. She is also a generous philanthropist who has donated to various causes and charities, especially those that focus on women and children. She is also the founder of the Margaret Obi Foundation, a non-governmental organization that provides scholarships, health care, and vocational training to underprivileged women and children in Nigeria.

Furthermore, Margaret Obi is also passionate about child protection and women’s rights. She facilitated the establishment of the Family Court in the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (MWASD), which deals with cases of child abuse and violation of women’s rights, especially widows who are denied their inheritance by their late husband’s relatives. She also advocates for the enactment and implementation of laws that protect children from harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and child labor.

Margaret Obi’s Awards and Recognition

Margaret Obi has received several awards and recognition for her outstanding achievements and contributions to society. Some of them include:

• The Most Outstanding First Lady Award by the Nigerian Women Association (NWA) in 2010.
• The Woman of Excellence Award by the Women’s International Network (WIN) in 2012.
• The Mother Teresa Award by the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in 2014.
• The Woman of Valor Award by the African Women Leadership Forum (AWLF) in 2016.
• The Icon of Humanity Award by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in 2018.

Margaret Obi is a remarkable woman who has proven herself as a devoted wife, a loving mother, a successful entrepreneur, a generous philanthropist, and a passionate advocate for women and children. She is an inspiration to many Nigerians who aspire to make a positive difference in their country. She is indeed a worthy partner to her husband, Peter Obi, who shares her vision of a new Nigeria.