H.E DAME VIRGY NGOZI ETIABA CON is a mother, Teacher, Administrator, a politician and a custodian of core traditional values. Today (Born 11 November 1942), 77 years ago this amazing woman was born, in Ezekwuabor, Otolo-Nnewi, in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba got married to late Bennet Etiaba of Umudim, Nnewi; and the marriage was blessed with six children.
Dame Virgy Etiaba, as she is popularly called, is the first and only female Governor in Nigeria’s history.
She emerged as the Governor of Anambra State when Peter Obi was impeached by the state legislature between November 2006 and February 2007.
The impeachment was nullified after three months and she transferred power back to Peter Obi and maintained her position as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State till the end of his first tenure.
Etiaba started her career as a teacher in several schools in Kafanchan, Aba, Port Harcourt and Nnewi, which spanned over 35 years.
She retired from active service as a teacher in 1991; and founded Bennet Etiaba Memorial School, in memory of her late husband.
She went into politics in 2006 when her people requested she served them in government.
On the 17th day of March 2006, she was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, making history as the first female Deputy Governor in the southeast geo-political zone of Nigeria.
She was later sworn in as the Executive Governor of Anambra State, making her the First Female Governor in Nigeria on the 3rd day of November 2006 following the impeachment of Governor Peter Obi. Her motherly disposition towards her state earned her the appellation of ‘Mama Anambra’.
She is the Founder of Dame Virgy Etiaba Foundation, a charity organisation that has helped hundreds of indigent Nigerians and Her Excellency has mentored hundreds of Nigerians through this Foundation.
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In November 2012, Her Excellency presented her highly acclaimed autobiography; ‘My Life, My Story’. She has also authored several other books and articles on Education including ‘Education; A Way Forward to Development’ published in November 2002, to mark her sixtieth birthday.
On the 3rd day of November 2007, she was inducted into Nigeria’s Hall of Fame in Abuja formally as Nigeria’s First Female Governor and was further named as one of Nigeria’s Fifty ‘Women of Valour’ in 2010 to mark Nigeria’s Fiftieth Independence anniversary and in 2014, she was a Federal Government delegate to the National Conference in Abuja and holds the Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON].
She is a Knight of St. Mary of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, a trailblazer, a team player, a great motivator, a seasoned Educationist and a de-tribalized role model for Nigerian women.
Her Excellency holds the traditional title of ‘Ezinne Nnewi’ and speaks Igbo, Hausa and English fluently. She is a mother of six accomplished children including two sons who are Lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
Since leaving office, she has continued to play a very prominent role in Nnewi. She is also the chairman of council titled chiefs in Nnewi. She is also a member of various committees in the Igwe’s Council and she functions during traditional and cultural events like the yearly Ofala events.
She is an influential woman in Nnewi politics and continues to inspire many more young women.
From all of us at Anaedoonline, we wish her Happy birthday.
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