Nigeria’s First Lady Aisha Buhari has lifted the lid on how she survived her early marriage to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

In her biography titled ‘Aisha Buhari: Being Different’, the first lady revealed that she got married to the President at the age of 18 in 1989.

In the book authored by Daji Sani, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, she revealed that there were challenges of adaptation to womanhood.

“In many villages in northern Nigeria, educating a girl is not considered a priority. In fact, early marriage affects every eighth girl. According to UNICEF, one in seven girls is reported to give birth by age seventeen The easiest justification for this practice is that it serves as a strategy for reducing the burden on the family.

“It is also viewed as a way of protecting the sanctity of the girl-child. Another report shows that child marriage occurs more frequently among girls who are the least educated and poorest, and who are living in rural areas.

“But the hope in her mind is massive. Interestingly, fate shone on her with the splendour of an enlightened gentleman. She married the kind of man any woman would want to associate herself with, a highly placed and responsible man. Even though this automatically placed her on the path of greatness, her family values have been the key influence in her life to this day.

“In 1989, the young lady, Aisha Halilu, got married to Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Major General and former military Head of State of Nigeria. Marriage as an institution moves at an undulating pace, full of uncertainties. The ability to surmount the challenges and move on to an unknown destination is crucial in marriage. Aisha, like any other girl-child married as a teenager, faced the challenges of adapting to womanhood.”

32 years after, Aisha is enjoying her position as First Lady, alongside her five children stared with Muhammadu.