Women leaders in Nigeria have expressed deep sadness over the death of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
In their tributes, they commiserated with former First Lady Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the children, and Nigerians over the irreparable loss of the former Nigerian leader at a London hospital at the age of 82.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in a condolence message, described the former president as “a man of immense courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the nation.”
My thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife, Hajia Aisha Buhari, his children, and the entire nation as we mourn this profound loss. May almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and continue to bless Nigeria with Peace and unity,” she prays.
Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, appreciated the late leader for the support he gave her in her current position while in office.
Unbelievable ! I did not know just how ill HE President Buhari was and minutes after sending my get well wishes I have just learned that he passed away. I am so very sad. May the Soul of HE @MBuhari rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to the entire Buhari family and his…
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) July 13, 2025
Deputy UN Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, in a tribute, eulogised the departed president as “one guided by the values he lived: discipline, humility and deep love for our country.”
Former Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress and Executive Director of NEXIM Bank Stella Okotete, in a tribute, describes the late president as an embodiment of integrity, discipline, and service.
“President Buhari believed in youth. He believed in women. And more than anything, he believed in building a legacy rooted in truth, fairness, and the selfless dedication to nation-building he carried so deeply in his heart.
“Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the institutions he strengthened, the lives he touched, and the people like me whom he empowered. His courage, quiet strength, and unwavering commitment to a better Nigeria continue to inspire me every single day,” she wrote.
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIR RAJI’UN
My heart is heavy as I join the people of Nigeria in mourning the passing of our former President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
Serving as Minister in his government was an honor — and one guided by the values he lived: discipline, humility, and… pic.twitter.com/YCrRfmVfwg
— Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) July 14, 2025
Former Minister of State FCT Haj. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, in a heartfelt tribute, said the leader was a towering figure of discipline, sacrifice, and uncommon humility, who bore the weight of a nation with quiet strength and left behind a legacy carved in integrity, patriotism, and service to humanity with his unwavering faith and devotion to Allah.
“To me, he was not just a president; he was Baba—a father who looked out for his children, who listened even in silence, and who believed in the potential of the younger generation to shape a better Nigeria. I will forever cherish his warmth, his gentle encouragement, and the trust he bestowed upon me as a member of his cabinet,” she eulogised.
Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a tribute, prayed for the repose of the late leader’ soul
“May Allah accept the soul of President Muhammadu Buhari in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amen,” she prayed.
The National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim, described the late Muhammadu Buhari as a disciplined and patriotic leader, traits that had earned him tremendous respect from leaders and people all over the world.
In a condolence statement, “NAWOJ recognised the late leader’s contributions to the development and unity of this country and hopes that his legacies will continue to inspire the women and youths of this country to always strive for the truth and excellence and make positive impacts in their communities and the nation.”
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, in their final group B match against Algeria, paid a solemn tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari by wearing black bands and observing a minute of silence before the national anthems preceding kickoff in their WAFCON 2024 fixture against Algeria in Casablanca, Morocco.
“A minute of silence was observed before kickoff in honour of former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away today. May his soul rest in peace. #SoarSuperFalcons #WAFCON2024 #NGAALG,” the Super Falcons posted on their official X account on Sunday.
Sports during the Buhari administration enjoyed a boost with the Federal Executive Council approval of “the sports as business policy.”
On assumption of office, the late Nigerian leader abolished the office of the First Lady, saying it had no constitutional backing.
The move led to mixed reactions; while some commended the decision, many gender development advocates criticised the decision as being detrimental to the mediatory role the office played in advocacy and the overall development of issues concerning women, girls, and children.
In the 2022 World Gender Gap report, Nigeria was ranked 50th in economic participation and opportunity and 134th in educational attainment, attributing that to gender gaps in wealth accumulation resulting from underlying gender gaps in the labour force.
The report also revealed that, on access to finance, women in Nigeria had near equal rights in accessing financial services, near equal access to land assets, and uneven rights to access non-land assets.
In February 2023, a few months before the end of his administration, the late President Buhari inaugurated a 56-member National Advisory Committee on Women’s Economic Empowerment, High-Level Advisory Council (HLAC), to support Nigerian women and girls in economic development.
In November 2022, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, announced that 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 to curb incessant cases of violence across states.
Tallen also stated that 32 states had also domesticated the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
The former two-time president died at the age of 82.
He served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.
He unsuccessfully vied for the presidency of Nigeria three times, in 2003, 2007, and 2011, before clinching victory in 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Buhari’s 2015 inauguration marked a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic history, as it was the first time an opposition candidate unseated a sitting president through the ballot.
He was the first Nigerian president to defeat an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan. His win in 2015 changed the tides in Nigeria’s democratic history, marking the historic first unseating of an incumbent president through the ballot.
He served two terms and handed over power to the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
