Nigeria’s first female senator in the Second Republic, Senator Franca Afegbua, is dead.
She died at the age of 79 year.
Her death was confirmed by her family on Sunday. The family said that funeral arrangements would be announced later.
Afegbua was born in Okpella, Edo State and was elected senator in 1983 under the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN to represent the then Bendel North Senatorial District of old Bendel State in the Senate.
She studied in Sofia, Bulgaria, for her university education and won an international hairstyling competition in 1977, after graduation.
On returning home, she joined active politics in 1983, and contested for senatorial seat where she defeated John Umolu to clinch the Bendel North Senatorial District of old Bendel State in the Senate seat.
She took a carrier as a stylist in Lagos State, and attracted many women folk and high class politicians like renowned Middle Belt politician, Joseph Tarka of Benue State, in 1980.
Tarka was said to have influenced her to join the the then ruling party, NPN.
