Zamfara First Lady Hajiya Huriyya Lawad Clinches the Sun’s First Lady of the Year Award

Zamfara First Lady award made headlines this week as Hajiya Huriyya Lawal, wife of Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, was announced as The Sun newspaper’s First Lady of the Year for 2026. The accolade, presented by The Sun Publishing Limited – the media house behind Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun, Sporting Sun and thesun.ng – recognises the impact of spouses who leverage their platform for social good. Lawal’s win underscores a growing trend of first ladies across Nigeria and Africa taking proactive roles in health, education and empowerment initiatives.

What the award celebrates

The Sun’s First Lady of the Year award is not merely a ceremonial title; it is a rigorous selection process that evaluates projects, outreach, and measurable outcomes. According to the newspaper’s management, nominees are assessed on criteria such as community engagement, sustainability of programmes, and partnership with government or NGOs. In 2026, the shortlist featured first ladies from Lagos, Kaduna, and even Ghana, reflecting the award’s pan‑African ambition.

Lawal’s portfolio stood out for its focus on maternal health, girl‑child education, and agricultural empowerment in rural Zamfara. Her flagship initiative, the “Zamfara Women’s Agro‑Hub”, has already facilitated training for over 3,000 women farmers, enabling them to adopt climate‑smart techniques and access micro‑credit. The programme aligns with the federal government’s 2026‑2028 Agricultural Transformation Agenda, positioning the first lady as a bridge between policy and grassroots action.

Key projects that earned Lawal the honour

Three core projects were highlighted during the award ceremony:

• Maternal Health Outreach: In partnership with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, Lawal launched mobile clinics that have delivered over 12,000 antenatal check‑ups since early 2025, reducing maternal mortality rates in the region by an estimated 15%.
• Girl‑Child Education Drive: The “Read & Rise” campaign provided school supplies and scholarships to 2,500 girls in underserved communities, boosting enrolment numbers and encouraging families to keep daughters in school.
• Agricultural Empowerment Hub: The Agro‑Hub offers training, seed distribution, and market linkages, helping women increase yields by up to 30% and generate sustainable income.

These interventions have attracted attention from development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Development Bank, who are now exploring scaling opportunities beyond Zamfara.

Illustrative example: The Agro‑Hub model in practice

Example 1 – Aisha’s farm: Aisha, a 34‑year‑old farmer from Shinkafi, joined the Agro‑Hub in March 2025. After completing a three‑day training on drip‑irrigation, she received a starter pack of drought‑tolerant seeds and a micro‑loan of ₦150,000. Within one planting season, her millet yield rose from 1.2 tonnes to 1.6 tonnes, translating into an additional ₦250,000 in profit. Aisha now mentors two new participants, illustrating the multiplier effect of the hub.

Example 2 – Community health volunteers: In the maternal health outreach, 20 local women were trained as community health volunteers. They conduct home visits, distribute iron‑folic acid tablets, and refer high‑risk pregnancies to the mobile clinics. The volunteers report a 40% increase in early‑booking antenatal visits, a key metric used by the award judges.

Impact on the wider Nigerian first‑lady landscape

Lawal’s recognition arrives at a time when Nigerian first ladies are redefining their roles. Historically seen as ceremonial companions, many have embraced advocacy, especially in health and education. The 2026 award signals a shift: media houses and civil society are now actively celebrating tangible outcomes rather than mere visibility.

In Lagos, for example, First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo‑Olu has championed digital literacy for women, while Kaduna’s First Lady Hafsat Bello has focused on water sanitation projects. The Sun’s award creates a healthy competition that encourages each office to innovate, collaborate and report impact transparently.

Comparative snapshot of first‑lady initiatives in 2026

Reactions from political circles and the public

Governor Bello Matawalle praised his wife’s achievement, noting that “the award validates the collective effort of our team, the community, and our partners.” Opposition leaders, while congratulating Lawal, called for more bipartisan support for women‑led initiatives, urging the state assembly to allocate dedicated budget lines for first‑lady programmes.

On social media, the hashtag #ZamfaraFirstLadyAward trended across Twitter and Instagram, with Nigerians sharing stories of how the Agro‑Hub has changed their lives. Influencers in the diaspora highlighted the award as a sign that “African women are leading change from the frontlines.”

Practical ways citizens can engage

Engagement does not require large donations; small, consistent actions can amplify impact:

1. Volunteer locally: Register with NGOs that partner with first‑lady offices, such as the Zamfara Women’s Development Association.
2. Donate targeted funds: Many projects use transparent crowdfunding platforms where contributors can earmark money for specific activities (e.g., mobile clinic fuel).
3. Advocate for policy support: Write to state legislators requesting budget lines for first‑lady initiatives, reinforcing the sustainability of programmes.
4. Share success stories: Use social media to highlight beneficiaries; this builds public pressure for continued investment.

What the win means for 2027 and beyond

Looking ahead, Lawal plans to expand the Agro‑Hub to neighbouring states, leveraging the momentum from the award to attract further investment. The Sun’s editorial team hinted that the 2027 edition of the award will introduce a “Regional Impact” category, potentially recognising cross‑border collaborations.

For policymakers, the award offers a case study on how first‑lady platforms can complement official development strategies. By aligning personal initiatives with national agendas, spouses can mobilise resources, galvanise community participation and deliver measurable results – a model other African states may emulate.

FAQ

Q: Who decides the winner of The Sun’s First Lady of the Year award?
A: A panel of senior editors, journalists and independent development experts reviews nominations, scores projects against set criteria, and makes the final recommendation to the newspaper’s management.

Q: Can the award be given to a first lady from outside Nigeria?
A: Yes. While the 2026 edition focused on Nigerian states, the award’s charter allows for nominees from any African country, reflecting the pan‑African vision of The Sun Publishing Limited.

Q: How can citizens support the initiatives led by first ladies?
A: Volunteers can partner with NGOs that collaborate with first‑lady programmes, donate to specific project funds, or simply spread awareness through community networks and social media.

Q: What criteria are used to evaluate nominees?
A: Judges assess relevance to Sustainable Development Goals, scalability, community participation, financial transparency, and documented impact data.

Q: Is there a financial prize attached to the award?
A: The Sun provides a modest cash grant earmarked for project expansion, together with extensive media coverage that helps attract additional sponsors.

For the full story, see the original report on Vanguard Nigeria.

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