Her Excellency
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
First lady of Ondo State
In role
24 February 2017 – 27 December 2023
GovernorRotimi Akeredolu
Preceded byOlukemi Mimiko
Succeeded byOluwaseun Aiyedatiwa
Personal details
Born
Betty Onyetugochioma Claribel Uburuamaka Anyanwu

(1953-07-20) 20 July 1953
Owerri, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Imo State, Nigeria)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1981; died 2023)​
[1]
Children4
Alma mater
Profession
  • Politician
  • aquaculturist
Websitebrecan.org

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (born 20 July 1953) is a Nigerian aquaculturist who was the first lady of Ondo State in Nigeria from 2017 to 2023. She is a feminist and gender activist.[2] She was married to former governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu.[3] She is the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, and a survivor of breast cancer.[4][5]

Birth

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu was born on 20 July 1953, to the family of chief BUB and Nneoma Dora Anyanwu, in Emeabiam, Owerri-West, in Imo State.[6]

Education

Anyanwu-Akeredolu attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology in 1977. She holds a Master of science degree in fisheries, major in aquaculture, from the University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo City.[7]

Career

She began her career as a fish farmer while working with the Federal Department of Fisheries. She retired in 2005.[8][9] She is a commercial fish farmer and provides consultancy services through her firm, Aquatek Farms Ventures.[10] In addition, she has made a foray into politics since 2007 and is active in the present (2017) dispensation.[11]

Charity and philanthropy

In 1997, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and survived. She started the nonprofit organization, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN)[12] to raise awareness of the disease. She has won awards in recognition of her work and commitment in the fight against breast cancer in Nigeria.[9]

She is also a supporter of the Bring Back Our Girls movement.[13]

She was passionate about the widow that made her launch a platform for them to gain from the dividends of democracy.[2]

Personal life

Anyanwu-Akeredolu married Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo State in April 1981. He died on 27 December 2023, after a prolonged health battle with leukaemia and prostate cancer at the age of 67. They had four children and four grandchildren.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "When I met my husband, it was love at first sight – Betty Akeredolu". 5 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu@ 67: Three Scores and Seven of Impactful Life". Vanguard News. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Akeredolu's wife pledges to help end female genital mutilation in Ondo – Premium Times Nigeria". www.premiumtimesng.com. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "ABOUT". 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu@ 67: Three Scores and Seven of Impactful Life". Vanguard News. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "When I met my husband, it was love at first sight – Betty A Akeredolu". punchng.com. 5 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Rotimi Akeredolu's Wife-Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu Profile-New Ondo First Lady". 28 November 2016.
  8. ↑ . thisdaylive.com https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/thisday/20170303/281784218879458. Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. 1 2 ondoevents (17 June 2017). "Betty Anyanwu – Akeredolu, Compassionate First Lady of Ondo state". Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Meet Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu Wife of Ondo State Governor Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu Her 4 Children : See Brief Profile & Biography – Daily Media Nigeria". dailymedia.com.ng. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "- Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Conference". studylib.net. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "How Nigeria can win the fight against cancer – BRECAN Founder, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu". dailypost.ng. 6 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Why I married Governor Akeredolu – Wife – Nigeria Newspapers".
  14. ↑ http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/rotimi-akeredolus-wifebetty-anyanwu-akeredolu-profilenew-ondo-first-lady/%7Cpublisher=www.nigerianmonitor.com%5B%5D
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.