HID Awolowo is dead

The matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, is dead. She died on Saturday, September 19 shortly after a meeting with her family members, at the age of 99. Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo popularly known as HID, was born to a modest family in Ikenne community of Ogun State in Nigeria. She is the widow of politician Obafemi Awolowo, who famously referred to her as his "jewel of inestimable value".

HID was also a successful businesswoman and astute politician. She played an active role in the politics of Western Nigeria. She stood in for her husband in the alliance formed between the NCNC and the AG, called the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), while he was tried and in jailed. To fulfil his dream of becoming president in the Second Republic, she toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning. She also coordinated the women's wing of the party and was always present at all party caucuses. A successful businesswoman, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957. She was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria.