Former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has offered a deeply personal account of his marriage to the late Maryam Babangida, including her conversion to Islam, in his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service. The memoir, unveiled on Thursday alongside a fundraiser for his presidential library, sheds light on their enduring love story—from their early courtship in Kaduna to their life as husband and wife.
Reflecting on his pursuit of Maryam, Babangida recalled his unwavering determination to win her heart.
“I wanted to make my intentions known to her and was determined not to accept ‘no’ for an answer. Fortune favors the bold, and in this case, it smiled upon me. I count myself lucky to this day,” he wrote.
However, Maryam initially harbored doubts about his suitability as a husband. “She was highly skeptical. She knew of my reputation as something of a man about town, and those were not the qualities she sought in a life partner. She was unconvinced of my ability to be serious, and many people around her reinforced that perception,” Babangida disclosed.
Faith, he revealed, was a cornerstone of his life and played a pivotal role in their union. He made it clear to Maryam that converting to Islam was a prerequisite for their marriage. Yet, this transition was not an arduous one for her, given her background.
“I shared with her that my faith was an integral and essential part of my life, and I would require her to embrace Islam. Praise be to Allah, it was not a difficult decision for Maria. With both Christian and Muslim influences in her upbringing and having already been part of a Muslim household, it was not entirely unfamiliar territory for her. She adapted with relative ease to life as a Muslim wife,” he recounted.
In a move that distinguished his marriage from many others within his cultural and religious setting, Babangida reassured Maryam that he would not take multiple wives—an assurance he believes strengthened their bond.
The couple wed on September 6, 1969, and together raised four children—Aisha, Muhammad, Aminu, and Halima. Their journey together spanned four decades until Maryam’s passing from ovarian cancer in Los Angeles on December 27, 2009, at the age of 61.
Babangida admitted that navigating life without her had been profoundly challenging, yet the cherished memories of their time together continued to offer him solace.
4o
