Maria Ochefu, the visionary behind the well-known Mammy Markets in military barracks across Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 86. Her son, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, confirmed that she died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, March 18. She had been receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi and would have turned 87 in April.
Security analyst Deji Adesogna shared the news of her death on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “RIP MAMA MAMMY MARKET. The founder of Mammy Market in military barracks across the country, Maria Ochefu, 86 years old, is dead. She was married to Colonel Anthony Ochefu, who once served as a military governor in Enugu State.”
Maria Ochefu was the pioneer behind the Mammy Markets, which have become integral to military life in Nigeria, offering soldiers and their families essential goods, food, and a space for socializing.
