Finding lasting love has never followed a single script. For some, it comes quietly and early. For others, it arrives after detours marked by heartbreak, reinvention and renewed hope. Zaynab Ngohemba’s story fits firmly into the latter category, a romantic journey that has continued to fascinate the Nigerian public because of its visibility, complexity and the stature of the men involved.
Zaynab Ngohemba, now the wife of Nigeria’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has lived much of her adult life under public scrutiny. Her romantic history, which includes several high-profile marriages, has placed her at the centre of conversations about love, power, wealth and personal choice in modern Nigeria.
Her first widely known marriage was to Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife. The union, which began in March 2016, drew intense national attention and ended in August 2017 after just over a year. At the time, she was known as Olori Wuraola Zaynab Otiti Obanor, a queen consort within one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional institutions. The dissolution of that marriage marked a turning point in her life and public image.
Following her separation from the Ooni of Ife, Zaynab relocated to Doha, Qatar, stepping away from the Nigerian spotlight into a more private international lifestyle. Reports later emerged linking her to a wealthy Arab prince, whose identity has not been publicly confirmed. In 2022, she reportedly welcomed a daughter from that relationship, further fuelling interest in her life abroad. Details about the child, including her name, have remained closely guarded.
Zaynab’s marital journey has also included relationships with other influential figures. Among those often mentioned are Saminu Turaki, a former Governor of Jigawa State, and Eli Khoury, a Lebanese billionaire businessman based in Dubai. These unions, like her marriage to the Ooni, reinforced her image as a woman whose life intersected repeatedly with power, affluence and global mobility.
Her repeated marriages have sparked debate across social media and public forums, with opinions sharply divided. Some critics frame her story as controversial, while others see it as a portrait of autonomy and resilience. One Facebook user, Ufuoma Bernard, summed up the widespread amazement, noting that Zaynab had been married to five prominent figures while many people hoped for just one enduring union.
Others have been more celebratory. Chinenye Gift Udengwu praised her confidence and independence, describing her marital choices as strategic and unapologetic. Another commentator, Edirin J. E. Laurence, used her story to challenge long-held beliefs about divorce and desirability, arguing that wealth and status often reshape how society judges both men and women after failed marriages.
Zaynab’s most recent marriage, to Senator George Akume, brought her back into Nigeria’s political spotlight. The union became public knowledge in late December 2025, though Akume’s spokesperson later clarified that the marriage itself had been in place for over a year. In December, she was formally welcomed into the Dajoh family compound in Mbakor, Benue State, marking her official integration into the Akume family.
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The announcement was confirmed through a celebratory Facebook post on December 26, 2025, by Abraham Double-D Dajo, a member of the Akume Dajoh family. The message described Zaynab as an extraordinary addition to the family and publicly acknowledged her new identity as Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh.
Born on July 16, 1986, in Edo State, Wuraola Zaynab comes from a cultural background deeply rooted in Benin traditions. Over the years, she has carried multiple identities, from Zaynab Otiti Obanor to Olori Wuraola, and now Queen Zaynab Ngohemba. Beyond her marriages, she is also known for humanitarian interests and a carefully guarded private life that spans Nigeria and the Middle East.
Zaynab is 39 years old, a public figure whose life continues to provoke discussion about love, choice and societal expectations. Whether her marriage to Senator Akume marks the chapter of lasting love she has long pursued remains to be seen. What is certain is that her story, layered with royalty, politics and personal reinvention, continues to captivate public attention and raises enduring questions about what it truly means to find fulfillment in love.
