Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, the beloved wife of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, the first civilian governor of Ogun State, has died at the age of 100. Her passing on January 11, 2026 was announced by her family with deep sorrow and gratitude to God for a long and impactful life.
Born in 1925, Lucia Onabanjo was revered as a matriarch, educator, community leader and supportive partner throughout her husband’s historic tenure as governor from 1979 to 1983. The family’s statement highlighted her legacy as a devoted mother, grandmother and great‑grandmother, noting her enduring faith, love and commitment to family and society.
Her husband, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, was a respected journalist and political figure whose governance during Nigeria’s Second Republic left a lasting imprint on Ogun’s political development. Lucia Onabanjo’s role alongside him both in public life and civil society contributed to the social fabric of the state’s early democratic era.
Officials and dignitaries have begun to pay tribute, describing her life as “a source of wisdom and resilience”. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun characterised her death as “the end of a glorious era,” praising her service to family, faith and the community. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
