Maria Ochefu, the founder of Mammy Market, a staple in military barracks across Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 86.
Her son, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, confirmed the news in a phone interview on Thursday, stating that she died in her sleep on Tuesday at her residence in Makurdi.
“Yes, Mama passed away on Tuesday in Makurdi in her sleep. She had been a patient at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and she would have been 87 in April this year,” Professor Ochefu disclosed.
Maria Ochefu was married to Colonel Anthony Ochefu, a former military governor of Enugu State.
In one of her last interviews, Ochefu recounted how she established Mammy Market, which has since become a household name in all military barracks across Nigeria.
She revealed that two former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and former President Muhammadu Buhari, were among her early customers.
“When I started, people like General Yakubu Gowon and Muhammadu Buhari were my regular customers,” she had said.
Her legacy as the pioneer of Mammy Markets remains significant in Nigerian military history, as the markets have served generations of military personnel and their families.
