Aisha Buhari

Aisha Buhari
Born	Aisha Halilu Buhari (1971-02-17) February 17, 1971 Adamawa State, Nigeria
Occupation(s)	Cosmetologist, businesswoman, First Lady of Nigeria (2015–2023)
Known for	First Lady of Nigeria, women's rights advocacy

Aisha Halilu Buhari (born 17 February 1971) is a trained cosmetologist and beauty expert who held the position of First Lady of Nigeria from 2015 until 2023. Throughout her time in this role, she championed the cause of enhancing women's participation in governmental roles and actively engaged with youth and women's organizations affiliated with the All Progressives Congress party.

Early life and family

Born on 17 February 1971 in Adamawa State, located in northeastern Nigeria, Aisha Halilu comes from a notable lineage. Her grandfather, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu, served as Nigeria's inaugural minister of defence. Her father worked as a civil engineer, while her mother hailed from the Ankali farming community. She completed her primary and secondary education within Adamawa State. On 2 December 1989, she married Muhammadu Buhari, who had five children from a former marriage. Together, Aisha and Muhammadu Buhari have five children and one grandchild.

Education

Aisha Buhari holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) and earned a master's degree in international affairs and strategic studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna. Additionally, she acquired a diploma in beauty therapy from the Carlton Institute of Beauty Therapy in the United Kingdom, alongside a postgraduate diploma in cosmetology and beauty from France's Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute. She is affiliated with both the UK Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health and Beauty Council.

Business career

She established and operated Hanzy Spa and Hanzy Beauty Institute, which managed beauty salons situated in both Kaduna and Abuja. Buhari served as a resource expert for the National Basic Technical Education (NBTE) on matters related to beauty therapy and cosmetology, contributing to the development of SME curricula. Following her husband's ascension to the presidency, she closed her beauty salon operations.

Buhari is also the author of Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists, a publication that has been incorporated into the NBTE curriculum.

Political career and advocacy

In July 2014, following a suicide bombing incident and an alleged assassination attempt targeting her husband by Boko Haram, Buhari publicly called on then-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to step down.

A committed advocate for the rights of women and children, she has consistently stressed the importance of educating girls prior to marriage while opposing practices such as child marriage and homosexuality. These issues were central themes during the 2015 electoral campaign.

At the Global Women Conference held in Buenos Aires in May 2015, she urged for Nigerian legislation aimed at safeguarding women against forced early marriages, sex trafficking, and other related abuses. She voiced strong concerns regarding child sexual abuse and pushed for laws to prevent early marriage.

On 12 June 2015, Buhari met with mothers of the abducted Chibok Girls. In April 2016, she donated proceeds from her book sales to support families affected by the Chibok kidnappings, the 2014 Buni Yadi massacre, as well as those suffering from malnutrition.

In October 2016, she openly declared that she would withhold support for her husband's subsequent presidential campaign unless there were tangible improvements in government performance; her husband responded dismissively to this statement.

In April 2021, she was present at the launch event for Aisha Buhari – Being Different, a biography authored by Hajo Sani, Senior Special Adviser on Women Affairs. The occasion was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo among other prominent figures.

Future Assured

Future Assured is a program initiated by Buhari to strengthen her efforts in promoting the health of women and children through community engagement and health advocacy. Driven by alarming health statistics among Nigeria’s vulnerable groups, Buhari reiterated her dedication during a stakeholders’ meeting at the presidential villa and at the initiative’s public unveiling at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 29 September 2015.

Additionally, Buhari has interacted with internally displaced individuals impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency, forming a committee tasked with distributing aid after visiting an IDP camp in Borno State.

Aisha Buhari Cup

The Aisha Buhari Cup is a football competition hosted by the Nigerian Football Federation, featuring the women’s national team as participants.

Public image

Initially, Aisha Buhari confined her involvement as the president’s spouse to duties explicitly outlined by the constitution, vowing not to exceed these boundaries. Nevertheless, on 13 June 2019, she officially embraced the designation of First Lady, five years subsequent to President Buhari expressing intentions to abolish the position.

Controversies

In October 2019, Fatima Daura, daughter of editor Mamman Daura, accused Aisha Buhari of verbal aggression and personal attacks against her family. Fatima released a video capturing Aisha’s outburst inside the presidential villa in Abuja, which she shared with media outlets as evidence. Aisha acknowledged her presence in the footage but claimed Fatima provoked her during recording and later issued an apology via a spokesperson. She attributed her frustration to Mamman Daura and his relatives restricting her access within the presidential villa after President Buhari had ordered their removal.

In early 2022, Nigerian student Aminu Adamu Mohammed posted a tweet regarding Aisha that was perceived as defamatory, suggesting misappropriation of government resources. Five months afterward, he was detained and charged with offenses including cybercrime, forgery, conspiracy, and breach of trust. This arrest sparked condemnation from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the National Association of Nigerian Students over concerns about freedom of expression and alleged mistreatment during custody. Following widespread domestic and international criticism, all charges were dismissed on 2 December 2022 after Aisha withdrew her complaint.

See also

• List of Hausa people
• Aisha Buhari Foundation