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According to available sources, Margaret Obi was formerly known as Margaret Brownson Usen, originally from Akwa Ibom State. She got married to Peter Obi in 1992. She became the first lady of Anambra state when her husband, Peter Obi, was governor of the state from 2006 to 2014. Mrs. Obi was said to be the driving force behind her husband’s National Gender Affirmative Action, which ensured that women received at least half of the seats in Obi’s cabinet. Many have described her as a humanitarian who helped boost her husband’s political popularity through various initiatives. She has been a vanguard for the empowerment and well-being of women and children in Anambra and beyond.
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In one of her initiatives, she managed the disbursement of grants for dry season agricultural equipment to women’s cooperatives. This led to women farmers having access to production equipment, which helped these women support their families. Also, she was instrumental in establishing Family Courts under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development (MWAPD), which dealt with child abuse and violations of women’s rights, including widows’ inheritance rights.
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In addition, she helped develop the Anambra State Annual Mothers Summit, a program aimed at gender equity. She also partnered with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to rehabilitate female victims of human trafficking. The couple is blessed with two children, Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi and Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi, who is a Hollywood actor. Featured Image Source: News Band
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