News
Dame Jonathan Mourns Foster Mother’s Death
There was an uneasy cloud of anxiety in Okrika, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, the home town of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday, as news of the death of the foster mother of the first lady, Mrs. Charity Tamunowaritoku Francis Oba spread in the ancient coastal city in Rivers State.
Late Mrs. Charity Tamunowaritoku Francis Oba, who was aged 65, was involved in a ghastly motor accident at around 4.30pm on Monday along Isiokpo-Elele Road in Rivers State on her way to Bayelsa State.
Her death comes barely three weeks after Dame Patience Jonathan, buried her step father, late Pa Derifaka Idasetima in Okrika.
The immediate elder sister of the first lady, Mrs Blessing I.S. Lazarus, told The Tide, in a tearful mood, yesterday in Okrika, that “the late Mrs Charity Oba was the mother of everybody in the family”, adding that she was the wife of their elder brother, Mr Francis Lazarus Oba.
“We are crying for her death because we are going to miss her motherly care and advice. It will really create a vacuum in our family,” she said, adding that “honestly, her death came to us in the family as a big shock.”
She described Mrs Charity Francis Oba, fondly called ‘Mama Sisi’, who also nurtured Dame Patience Jonathan after the demise of her biological mother in 1993, as “a nice, caring and God-fearing family woman,” saying that “the family is currently in a state of mourning.
“Our President, Goodluck Jonathan recognised late Mrs Charity Oba as his mother-in-law, hence we did not meet his wife’s biological mother”, she added.
When The Tide met the elder brother of the first lady, he pleaded not to be disturbed, saying that he has instructions from the Protocol team at the Presidency not to comment of the death, and referred our correspondents to his younger brother, one Mr Inyengierefaka, the national president of PFON, who resides at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.
The Tide could not reach Inyengierefaka for comments on the sudden death of their cherished sister.
However, a family relation, Mrs Roselyn Abibo, said she heard the news of the death of ‘Mama Sisi’ in Port Harcourt yesterday afternoon with shock, and decided to visit Okrika to get full details of the incident from the family.
She said “as a person who lived and stayed together with them in their Sukube Oba House, I am saddened by the shocking death of our mother,” adding that “a big tree has fallen in the family.”
Chief Isaac Zeb Obipi, the Ogulacha 11 of Okrika and a senior university lecturer in the state, expressed sympathy with the family, saying that he “received the news of the death of Madam Charity Oba with shock and broken heart”.
Chief Obipi said the first lady needed late Mrs Charity Oba’s motherly support and advice most at these trying times in the history of the nation, saying “it is painful”.
He prayed God to give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, and advised the first lady to be strong, and not allow the circumstances of the death to dampen her good spirit and works to strengthen women and children in the country.
A man of God, Pastor Miebaka Akuroseokika of St Peter’s Cathedral, Okrika, expressed sorry over the sudden death of ‘Mama Sisi’ in such a manner, and prayed God to strengthen the family.
In her words, Mrs Boma Obienime said, “it is disheartening that Dame Patience Jonathan should face such a calamity,” and added that Mrs Charity Oba was a woman who left everything to God.
When contacted, the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, declined comment on the matter, saying, “I cannot say anything on this matter now until I get full details.”
But the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, confirmed yesterday that the foster mother of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan was among the two victims that lost their lives in a tragic motor accident that occurred along Isiokpo-Elele Road in Rivers State last Monday evening.
She said that the vehicle conveying the foster mother of the first lady, Mrs Charity Tamunowaritoku Francis Oba, lost control on the Isiokpo-Elele Road on its way to Bayelsa State, and somersaulted five times before ditching into the bush.
She confirmed that apart from the foster mother of the first lady, Mrs Charity Oba, a 14-year old student of the Adventist Secondary School, Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, whose name was simply given as Miss Favour, also lost her life in the crash.
Agabe explained that Mrs Charity Oba and Miss Favour died on the spot when the car somersaulted while the driver of the vehicle, one Stanley Enyindah and another occupant, sustained various degrees of injuries, and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the state capital for treatment.
She stated that the corpse of late Charity Oba was taken to Kpaima Mortuary in Elechi Beach area of Diobu, in Port Harcourt by a team of policemen.
An aide to the member representing Ogu/Bolo State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Evans Bapakaye Bipi also confirmed the death of Mrs Charity Oba in a road accident.
Fred Itobo, said that the president’s wife’s foster mother was involved in the accident while she was on her way to Bayelsa State.
“Yes! She was involved in an accident and she died. Her body has been taken to a mortuary. Bipi was among those who took her body to the mortuary,” Itobo said.
Itobo further confirmed that Bipi, who is a relative to the deceased, was among those who took the corpse of Mrs Charity Oba to Kpaima Mortuary.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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