J. Archibong
Dame Patience Jonathan, Lady, had encomiums and accolades showered on her by Nigerians from all walks of life and shades of opinion for her numerous palliative measures and initiatives designed to bring succor and hope to the oppressed, deprived, depraved, helpless, and hopeless.
Many people have extolled Mrs. Jonathan for her exemplary leadership, modesty, and commitment to upholding unity in the country. Others showered encomiums on Mrs. Jonathan for her empowerment programmes that provided aid, assistance, and succour to women, children, the disabled, and less privileged Nigerians and contributed immensely to the reduction of child mortality and enhanced maternal health for women.
Tributes by G. Influence
Dame Patience Jonathan has been described as an apostle of women’s empowerment. As noted by G influence:
“She struggled relentlessly to awaken and empower the Nigerian woman through her various summits, programmes, enlightenment campaigns, sensitization, including making sure that women in politics in the country are constitutionally recognized as stakeholders. She canvassed in several fora that women should be given more opportunities to contribute to the development of the country.”
While thanking God for the gift of the First Lady, G-influence states further that:
“Dame Patience Jonathan has done everything right in the uplifting of women’s gender in the country; her numerous philanthropic works, which are yielding good fruits today, cannot be overemphasized. Dame Patience Jonathan has proven to be the best First Lady in the history of this country. She is the hope of every woman, a pride to her husband, and a loving mother to her children.”
In a piece entitled “Nigerian Women Should be Proud of First Lady Patience Jonathan”, the G-influence recounts the position of Nigerian women prior to the emergence of the Goodluck Administration:
“Before the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, Women’s positions in government were marginalized to the minimum. There were various factors responsible for this gender inequality in government; social, economic, cultural, and religious factors were largely responsible for women’s marginalization in politics.”
The NCWS
The President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nkechi O. Mba, while lauding the First Lady, said the appointment and empowerment of women:
“There are positive signs that may not have been possible if not for the proactive steps taken by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, in pursuing her project on the empowerment of more women.
“The greater significance of these is that in the near future, more and more women will be empowered to help transform this country in line with the vision of President Jonathan.”
Encomiums from Nigerian women
Never had a First Lady of Nigeria enjoyed the level of support, popularity, and acceptance as Dame Patience Jonathan. This manifested in the numerous awards, solidarity visits, and messages she received from a wide gamut of the Nigerian society. The awards attest to the ubiquitous recognition and appreciation of her service to humanity.
Dame Patience Jonathan has been a source of inspiration, and Nigerians have felt euphoric and joyous to identify and associate with a woman who has done so much to move humanity forward. Nigerians have congratulated the First Lady for her excellent and exceptional performance, which culminated in the awards to her. The awards are a positive development for women in particular and Nigeria in general. Other first ladies must emulate her and draw inspiration from her achievements.
In recognition of the First Lady’s pragmatic, charismatic, and visionary leadership, women all over the federation have heaped praises on Dame Patience Jonathan for restoring the dignity of womanhood through her pet projects. Nigerians have also expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her contributions to the empowerment of women and the development of children.
Encomiums from faith-based organizations
The programmes embarked upon by the First Lady have enjoyed widespread support and attracted encomiums from faith-based organizations, political organizations, civil society groups, and Nigerians of all shades of opinion. She has been described as a leader who will not lead the people astray. Her programmes are geared towards achieving a qualitative and meaningful life for women, children, and the less privileged people of this nation. And this has accounted for the strong and quality followership that she has enjoyed.
She has had a huge impact on the lives of women and helped women learn different skills for self-empowerment.
Praise from the Movement for the Enhancement of Women and Children in Nigeria
The Movement for the Enhancement of Women and Children in Nigeria praised Dame Patience Jonathan for her “uncommon commitment to the welfare of children and the general enhancement of the condition of women in Nigeria.” The organization stated further that “it was in realization of this noble quality that the African First Ladies Peace Mission unanimously elected her the President of the association.”
Felicitations from Tukur
A quintessential woman, Dame Patience Jonathan had done more than any first lady before her. She had taken the bull by the horns, treaded where her predecessors feared, and succeeded where they failed. The National Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had described Dame Patience Jonathan as a “Special Gift” to her husband and the nation.
In a congratulatory message to the First Lady to mark her 56th birthday, Tukur lauded Mrs. Jonathan’s “exemplary life” in being able to provide a propitious environment for President Jonathan to render to the nation purposeful, dynamic, and proactive leadership.”
Tukur stated further: “We felicitate with you and give thanks to Almighty God for giving to our dear nation, a veritable woman of virtue and a vessel of honour as our First Lady at this point in our national development.
“You are not just a special gift to your husband and family but to the downtrodden, the poor, the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water, and indeed to the nation and humanity at large.”
“We are proud of your exemplary life and the able way you have held the fort on the home front, thereby providing an enabling environment for peace of mind and a good atmosphere for your doting and amiable spouse, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to continue to give our dear nation purposeful and proactive leadership.
“Truly, behind every successful man is a woman of substance like your revered person. You have stood solidly behind your husband like the rock of Gibraltar and giving him the support, warmth, care, and love he needs in his arduous task of taking our country to the land of promise. Your faith in the unity and oneness of our country is total.”
Tribute from The Will
“Over the years, hundreds of children have benefited from free heart surgery and treatment from this initiative and are currently in excellent conditions of health. The initiative demonstrates the caring disposition of the First Lady. God has used her to touch the lives of sick children to make them healthy and happy through the appropriate medical intervention. We hope that many more Nigerians will follow in the footsteps of Dame Patience to help save lives…To Dame Patience Jonathan, we say kudos, your name will forever be written in gold in the sands of time for wiping away the tears of sick children.”
Notable Quote
Samuele Onwu, on April 27, 2012, said, “Her Excellency Dame (Dr.) Patience Ebele Jonathan has really shown the heart of a mother, intricately woven with the life of her child/nation. Her child/nation is the object of her deepest love and affection. No sacrifice is too much for Dame (Dr.) Patience Ebele Jonathan to make for the survival of the child/nation.”
“She has positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians; the positive words of Dame (Dr.) Patience Ebele Jonathan has built up Nigerians’ self-confidence, courage, and determination to succeed in life. She encourages Nigerians by every means to reach their highest potentials through her diligent teachings, the tender love she manifests towards Nigerians, and her exemplary life.”
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