Lagos State lost a price jewel in person of Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson on Sunday, July 17, 2022, to the shock of many. The light-skinned, delectable daughter of Lagos, was an amazon and a frontline woman of the All Progressives Congress. Her death draw attention of notable figures in Nigeria, as President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker Akeem Gbajabiamila, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senator Tokunbo Abiru and many influential public figures mourned Kemi Nelson, earnestly.
Mrs. Kemi Nelson died at the age of 66 after suffering a protracted cancer-related ailment (ovarian) for some time.
According to close sources, she travelled abroad for treatment and returned feeling much better after extensive treatment. Her family friends and supporters organised thanksgiving for her safe return.
However, on the evening of Saturday, July 16, 2022, her health took a dramatic turn as she reportedly had a sudden relapse and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital at Victoria Island, while her husband was called around 3am on Sunday, July 17, to come down to the hospital. The well-loved politician eventually died around 10a.m on that Sunday.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has commended the Lagos State Government for its support since the death of Chief Kemi Nelson, particularly for sponsoring the food packs that were given to guests and sympathizers who visited her residence on daily basis since her death was announced.
Since her emergent in public life in the early 1990s, Kemi Nelson has recorded impressive records and made impacts across the country. Starting from the early 1992 when she contested for the Lagos West Senatorial ticket under the National Republican Convention NRC, and lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to when she won the Ikeja Federal Constituency to the National Assembly under the UNCP during the Abacha era in 1998 (the assembly was truncated by the military dictator). She had actively participated in politics and had remained a strong force to reckon with.
During the regime of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as executive governor of Lagos State, Kemi Nelson was appointed Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation from 1999-2003. She remained a founding member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and continued to be a main force till the party mutated into the All Progressives Congress (APC). She became Women Leader of the APC, Lagos chapter and later, South West Women Zonal Leader of the party. Kemi was appointed by President Mohammadu Buhari as the Director General of the Nigerian Insurance Social Trust Fund in 2019, where she served till this year.
The delectable amazon, who was popularly known for her charming smile and customised low hair cut which she adorned with a unique head gear, was well read and highly respected by her male political counterparts.
She was the only female member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and the most recognised woman leader of the APC across the country. All the major national dailies in Nigeria broke the report of her death with captivating headlines. The Vanguard newspaper announced Kemi’s demise thus, “Breaking: Tinubu’s ally, Kemi Nelson dies at 66.”
The Premium Times headline on her reads, “Buhari mourns Kemi Nelson.” All the headlines from Nigerian dailies show her influence on state and national politics. Television stations, radio stations and social media platforms carried stories on this great woman.
Married to Mr. Adeyemi Nelson with whom they had three children, Kemi Nelson graduated as a registered nurse and midwife from the prestigious University of Ibadan in the 1980s and bagged MBA and diploma in Law from the Lagos State University, Ojo. She was described as a grassroots mobiliser, advocate of women and youths in the country.
She is survived with three children; a female who is the General Manager of LASPARK and two males.