RismadarVoice Reporters
June 21, 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid glowing tribute to the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing her as a woman whose legacy of service, compassion and leadership continues to impact Nigeria through the values she instilled in her son.
Speaking on Sunday at the Annual Grand Prayer Session held in her honour at the National Mosque, Abuja, Shettima said the late Iyaloja-General of Nigeria lived a life devoted to uplifting others and strengthening institutions, leaving behind a legacy that transcends generations.
Representing President Tinubu at the event, the Vice President said Alhaja Mogaji’s influence was evident in the leadership style of the President, whom she raised with a deep commitment to public service, justice and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, President Tinubu’s dedication to democratic ideals, good governance and national development was rooted in the values he learned from his mother.
“A mother shaped a leader, and through that leader her values now serve the whole of Nigeria,” Shettima stated.
He described the late matriarch as a champion of grassroots development who devoted much of her life to advancing the welfare of traders, especially market women, and ensuring that their voices were heard in national discourse.
The Vice President noted that Alhaja Mogaji transformed the marketplace into a platform for empowerment, unity and social progress, earning widespread respect for her commitment to service and community development.
He said her leadership was defined by humility, compassion and selflessness, adding that she consistently stood up for the vulnerable and promoted peaceful coexistence among people.
Shettima also used the occasion to express optimism about Nigeria’s future, assuring citizens that the country would overcome its current security and economic challenges through collective commitment, prayers and national unity.
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the nation’s pressing concerns through policies aimed at enhancing security, stimulating economic growth and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, described the late Alhaja Mogaji as a woman whose life was dedicated to the service of humanity.
Masari disclosed that over 250 hand-pump boreholes had been constructed across nine northern states in her memory, providing clean water to thousands of residents.
He also announced plans to establish the Abibatu Mogaji Islamic Centre in Abuja to promote Islamic scholarship, leadership development, science and technology education.
Additionally, a modern Juma’at Mosque with residential quarters for its Imam and support staff is to be constructed in Rigasa, Kaduna State, in honour of the late matriarch.
The prayer session featured special prayers by Islamic scholars for the repose of Alhaja Mogaji’s soul as well as prayers for peace, unity, security and economic prosperity in Nigeria.
