Hajiya Turai Umar Musa iar'Adua (born July 1957) is the widow of former Nigerian President

President of Nigeria

The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...

 and former Katsina State

Katsina State

Katsina State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its governor is Ibrahim Shema, a member of the People's Democratic Party...

 Governor Umaru Yar'Adua. She served as the First Lady of Nigeria from 2007 until the death of her husband, President Yar'Adua, on May 5, 2010.

Education

Turai Yar'Adua was born in the Katsina

Katsina

Katsina is a city , and a Local Government Area in northern Nigeria, and is the capital of Katsina State. Katsina is located some 160 miles east of the city of Sokoto, and 84 miles northwest of Kano, close to the border with Niger. As of 2007, Katsina's estimated population was 459,022...

 metropolitan area

Metropolitan area

The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...

 of northern Nigeria in July 1957. She attended Government Girls Secondary School in Kankiya during her early life.

Turai Yar'Adua attended Garama Primary School in Katsina

Katsina

Katsina is a city , and a Local Government Area in northern Nigeria, and is the capital of Katsina State. Katsina is located some 160 miles east of the city of Sokoto, and 84 miles northwest of Kano, close to the border with Niger. As of 2007, Katsina's estimated population was 459,022...

 and Government Secondary School in Kankia

Kankia

Kankia is a Local Government Area in Katsina State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kankia in the north of the area on the A9 highway at.It has an area of 824 km² and a population of 151,434 at the 2006 census....

, both in Katsina State. She later enrolled at Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria

Zaria

Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...

, Kaduna State

Kaduna State

-History:The state is the successor to the old Northern Region of Nigeria, which had its capital at Kaduna. In 1967 this was split up into six states, one of which was the North-Central State, whose name was changed to Kaduna State in 1976. This was further divided in 1987, losing the area now part...

, where she was reportedly named "best student" in 1980. In 1983, Yar'Adua received a bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 in Language from Ahmadu Bello University

Ahmadu Bello University

Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....

.

Marriage

Turai married Umaru Yar'Adua in 1975, and they have five daughters and two sons. One of their daughters, Zainab, is married to Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Governor of Kebbi State

Kebbi State

Kebbi State is a state in north-western Nigeria with its capital at Birnin Kebbi. The state was formed from part of Sokoto State in 1991. Kebbi State is bordered by Sokoto State, Niger State, Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger and the nation of Benin. It has a total area of...

.

In September 2007, Turai was the guest of honor at the commissioning of the Mobility Aid and Braille Centre in Akure

Akure

Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the largest city and capital of Ondo State. The city has a population of approximately 387,087...

, Ondo State

Ondo State

Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...

. The centre was built by the Handicapped Education Foundation (HANDEF), a non-governmental organization founded by Olufunke Agagu, then First Lady of Ondo State. Also in attendance at the event were the Vice President's wife, Patience Jonathan, and the wives of multiple other state governors.

She was rumored to be one of her husband's closest advisors during his tenure as President of Nigeria. For example, Yar'Adua is believed to have influenced the choice of Professor Babatunde Osotimehin

Babatunde Osotimehin

Babatunde Osotimehin , a national of Nigeria, was appointed on 19 November 2010 as the new Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, for a four year term....

, the former Director-General of the National Action Committee on AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

, as Nigeria's Minister of Health during her husband's administration.

Corruption Allegations

Wikileaks revealed several cables alleging corruption, though the cables stated the people demanding bribes "may simply have been attempting to exploit the First Lady's name for personal enrichment". Cases involved residential construction ($2 million demanded), and during her husband's governorship, she "siphoned off millions in public funds for private use".