By our Reporter
Maria Ochefu, the woman behind the iconic Mammy Market found in military barracks across Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 86.
Her son, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, confirmed her death on Thursday, March 20, 2025. He revealed that she died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday after receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
She would have turned 87 in April. Maria Ochefu was the wife of Colonel Anthony Ochefu, a former military governor of Enugu State.
She gained national recognition for establishing Mammy Market, a concept that became a staple in military barracks across the country.
