Nigeria’s First Female Senator, Franca Afegbua Is Dead

The first female Senator in Nigeria, Franca Afegbua, has been confirmed dead by family and friends.

In a statement on Sunday, the Afegbua family  announced that the former legislator died in the early hours of today at the age of 79.

According to the statement, Senator Afegbua, a native of Okpella, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, combined beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria.

The statement added that funeral details will be announced by the family soon.

The statement reads: “The Afegbua family of Edo state has confirmed the demise of the first woman senator in Nigeria, Senator Franca Afegbua, whose sad event occurred this morning, Sunday, March 12, 2023. She combined beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria.

“Funeral details will be announced by the family soon.”

Recall that Afegbua was elected the senator representing Bendel-North in October 1983 under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Nigeria’s second republic.

Her political journey was, however, cut short as the military coup of December 1983 toppled the civilian government less than three months after she assumed office.