History often remembers people for their greatest achievements. Sometimes, however, it remembers them for the lives they briefly shared with someone equally extraordinary.
Such was the story of Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa.
Their marriage did not last long. It produced no lifelong romantic fairy tale. Yet decades later, their names continue to appear together whenever Nigerians discuss the lives of two influential figures who shaped the country’s politics and journalism in different ways.
One became one of Nigeria’s most recognizable female politicians and social activists. The other became one of Africa’s most respected investigative journalists before his shocking assassination changed Nigerian media history forever.
Although they eventually walked different paths, their brief marriage remains an intriguing chapter in Nigeria’s national story, offering lessons about ambition, personal growth, changing relationships, and destiny.
Two Remarkable Lives Before They Met
Before history connected their names, Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa were already individuals driven by extraordinary ambition.
Florence Ita-Giwa was born on February 19, 1946, in Cross River State. Raised in southern Nigeria during the final years of British colonial rule, she grew up in a society where women were expected to remain largely within traditional domestic roles.
Yet Florence refused to be limited by convention.
She pursued education, developed exceptional communication skills, and gradually built a reputation for confidence, intelligence, and leadership qualities that would later define her political career.
Dele Giwa, born Sumbo Oladele Babatunde Giwa on March 16, 1947, in Ile-Ife, Western Nigeria, possessed a different kind of ambition.
He loved ideas.
He loved books.
Most importantly, he believed journalism could change society.
From an early age, he developed an uncommon curiosity about politics, government, and human behavior. That curiosity would eventually transform him into one of Nigeria’s finest journalists.
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When Their Paths Crossed
The exact details of how Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa first met have never been extensively documented in public records.
What is known is that they married while both were still relatively young and building their futures.
At that stage, neither had yet become the national figure Nigerians would later celebrate or debate.
Like many young couples, they entered marriage with hopes and dreams.
Friends and acquaintances who knew them during those years often described both as highly intelligent, ambitious, and determined individuals.
Those qualities attracted them to one another.
Ironically, those same qualities may also have made sustaining the marriage difficult.
A Marriage That Lasted Only a Short Time
Their marriage was brief.
Unlike many celebrity relationships today, there were no endless newspaper headlines documenting every disagreement.
Nigeria’s media landscape during those years was very different.
Neither Florence nor Dele publicly discussed the reasons their marriage ended.
As a result, historians have avoided speculation.
No verified historical evidence suggests scandal, betrayal, or dramatic conflict.
Instead, available records simply indicate that the marriage ended in divorce after a relatively short period.
The two moved on with their lives.
Years later, Florence Ita-Giwa herself acknowledged in interviews that Dele Giwa had been her husband, treating that period as one chapter in a much larger life story rather than its defining moment.
Choosing Different Roads
Following their separation, each pursued an entirely different destiny.
Florence Ita-Giwa increasingly became involved in business, public service, women’s advocacy, and eventually politics.
She emerged as one of Nigeria’s most recognizable female political figures.
Her charisma, confidence, and ability to build relationships earned her influence across party lines.
She later served in the Nigerian Senate representing Cross River South and became known for championing the welfare of the Bakassi people after the peninsula was transferred to Cameroon.
Beyond politics, she devoted significant attention to women’s empowerment, youth development, and community advocacy.
Meanwhile, Dele Giwa immersed himself in journalism.
His writing style stood out because it combined investigative depth with language ordinary Nigerians could easily understand.
Rather than simply reporting events, he questioned authority.
He challenged corruption.
He demanded accountability.
His fearless reporting quickly earned him both admiration and powerful enemies.
The Birth of Newswatch
In 1984, Dele Giwa joined forces with Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed, and Dan Agbese to establish Newswatch magazine.
The publication transformed Nigerian journalism.
Instead of repeating government statements, Newswatch invested heavily in investigative reporting, political analysis, and carefully researched stories.
Readers trusted the magazine because it pursued facts rather than propaganda.
Within a short period, it became one of the country’s most influential publications.
Young journalists admired Dele Giwa not only for his courage but also for his insistence that journalism should serve the public instead of those in power.
The Parcel Bomb That Shocked Nigeria
On October 19, 1986, Nigeria witnessed one of the darkest moments in its media history.
A parcel was delivered to Dele Giwa’s home in Lagos.
It appeared to be an official package.
When he opened it, the parcel exploded.
The blast killed him almost instantly.
He became the first known victim in Nigeria to be assassinated with a parcel bomb.
The murder stunned the nation.
Journalists, politicians, students, lawyers, and ordinary citizens struggled to understand how such an attack could occur.
Many questions were asked.
Very few were answered.
Despite multiple investigations over the decades, Dele Giwa’s assassination remains officially unsolved.
The case continues to symbolize the dangers faced by journalists who challenge powerful interests.
Florence Ita-Giwa’s Life After Dele Giwa
By the time of Dele Giwa’s assassination, Florence Ita-Giwa had long moved on with her own life and career.
Their marriage had ended years earlier.
She did not become known because she had once been married to Dele Giwa.
Rather, she built an independent identity through politics, advocacy, and public service.
Throughout the following decades, she became one of Nigeria’s most influential female politicians.
She earned national recognition for her outspoken defense of the Bakassi people after the implementation of the International Court of Justice judgment that transferred sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
She also became a prominent voice for women’s participation in politics, encouraging younger generations to seek leadership positions traditionally dominated by men.
Why Their Story Still Fascinates Nigerians
People remain fascinated by Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa because their lives intersected before history elevated them into national figures.
It is a reminder that history is rarely predictable.
A short-lived marriage between two ambitious young Nigerians eventually became part of the biographies of a distinguished senator and one of the country’s greatest journalists.
Neither could have imagined how history would later remember them.
One became a symbol of political resilience.
The other became a symbol of press freedom.
Together, their brief union represents an unusual meeting point between two different worlds that would later shape modern Nigeria.
Separating History from Rumour
Over the years, stories have circulated about their marriage, with some attempting to assign blame for its failure or invent dramatic explanations.
However, these claims are not supported by credible historical evidence.
Documented history confirms only that Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa were once married and later divorced.
The reasons for their separation remain private.
Responsible historical writing respects that distinction.
Separating verified facts from speculation allows future generations to understand history as accurately as possible.
Their Lasting Legacy
Although their marriage occupies only a small portion of their biographies, both individuals left lasting marks on Nigeria.
Florence Ita-Giwa demonstrated that women could thrive in national politics despite longstanding cultural barriers.
Her advocacy for marginalized communities and women’s political participation continues to inspire many Nigerians.
Dele Giwa permanently changed Nigerian journalism.
His commitment to fearless reporting established standards that continue to influence investigative journalists across the country.
His assassination remains a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting press freedom and ensuring justice for those who risk their lives in pursuit of truth.
The story of Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa is not simply about a marriage.
It is about two remarkable Nigerians whose lives briefly converged before history called each toward different destinies.
Their relationship ended, but their individual achievements ensured that neither would be forgotten.
Florence Ita-Giwa became a respected political leader and advocate for her people.
Dele Giwa became one of Africa’s most celebrated journalists, whose tragic death continues to symbolize the struggle for a free press.
Together, they remind us that even brief chapters in people’s lives can become enduring parts of a nation’s history. Sometimes history is shaped not only by lifelong partnerships but also by the unexpected intersections of extraordinary lives.
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Author’s Note
This article is based on documented historical records, published biographies, reputable news archives, and verified public interviews. While Florence Ita-Giwa and Dele Giwa’s marriage is a matter of historical record, the reasons for its dissolution have never been authoritatively documented. Consequently, this article deliberately avoids speculation and distinguishes established facts from unverified claims.
References
Newswatch Magazine archives
Nigerian National Assembly historical records
Interviews with Florence Ita-Giwa published in Nigerian newspapers
The Guardian (Nigeria) archives
Punch newspaper archives
Vanguard newspaper archives
The Nation newspaper archives
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) records on Dele Giwa
Media Rights Agenda historical publications
Biographical records on Dele Giwa and Florence Ita-Giwa
