Senator Afegbua was a native of Okpella a town in the Etsako-east local government area of Old Bendel state. Now split into Edo and Delta state.
She was the first female senator elected in October 1983 representing Bendel-north under the ruling party National party of Nigeria.
The first female senator has been confirmed dead in a private hospital after battling an undisclosed illness.
Afegbua dies at the age of 79, while her demise was confirmed and disclosed by her family in a statement issued on Sunday 12/3/2023.
“The Afegbua family of Edo state has confirmed the demise of the first woman senator in Nigeria , Senator Franca Afegbua, whose sad event occurred this morning, Sunday, March 12,2023. She combined beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria. Funeral details will be soon announced by the family soon,” the family said.
Her body had been deposited at the university of Benin Teaching Hospital( UBTH) mortuary.