The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has married Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a development that has now been publicly acknowledged by his family and confirmed by his spokesperson.
The marriage came into the public spotlight following a celebratory social media post on Friday by Abraham Double-D Dajoh, a member of the prominent Dajoh family of Mbakor, Benue State, announcing that Queen Zaynab had been formally welcomed into the family.
The post described the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” and noted that she was received in line with Tiv cultural traditions.
In a statement that has since been widely shared, the family expressed collective joy over the marriage and officially welcomed the former queen of the Ife Kingdom into their fold.
“We, the entire Dajoh Family, happily join our daddy, uncle and brother, His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume Jugu Dajoh, in welcoming his new and uncommon wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, into the Dajoh family,” the statement read.
The family also thanked Akume’s political associates and supporters for their continued loyalty and support, urging them to remain steadfast as he begins what they described as a new and significant chapter in his personal life.
In further welcoming Queen Zaynab, the family highlighted their ancestral heritage in Mbakor and the wider Tiv nation, describing Benue State as the “Food Basket of the Nation” and Mbakor as a historic seat of leadership.
“Welcome to Benue State, the Food Basket of the Nation. Welcome to Mbakor, the seat of leadership of the Tiv nation, and welcome to the Dajoh family, the home of your darling husband. Welcome home, Queen Zaynab,” the statement added.
Queen Zaynab, formerly known as Olori Wuraola during her marriage to the Ooni of Ife, was married to Oba Ogunwusi for about 17 months before their union ended in 2017. Since then, she has remained a visible public figure, known for her humanitarian and social advocacy work.
While reports suggested that the marriage ceremony took place on December 24, this was later clarified by Akume’s spokesperson, Yomi Odunuga.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, Odunuga confirmed the marriage but dismissed claims that it was recently solemnised.
“I can confirm the marriage. However, contrary to the rumour that the marriage was concretised in Gboko on Christmas Eve, it is actually a marriage that is over one year old,” Odunuga said.
Akume, a former governor of Benue State and a long-standing political figure, currently serves as Secretary to the Government of the Federation in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
News of his marriage to Queen Zaynab has continued to generate widespread reactions across Nigeria’s social and political spaces, drawing attention to a union that blends power, royalty and tradition.
