Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has named his daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, as the acting First Lady, following the recent passing of his wife, Patience Eno. The appointment was formally recognized during a condolence visit led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
She was accompanied by Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, along with the spouses of several state governors and senior members of the National Assembly.
Senator Tinubu praised Governor Eno’s decision, drawing parallels to similar traditions in the United States, where such appointments have been made to honor the legacies of former First Ladies.
She lauded the move as a fitting way to ensure Patience Eno’s charitable and social endeavors continue. In her words, “I want to thank God for Patience’s life, brief though it was, she finished her race with grace.
May God give you, your family, and your children the strength to endure this loss.”
Governor Eno, reflecting on his late wife’s profound impact on his life and leadership, described her as both his “greatest supporter and most discerning critic.” He shared the difficulty of continuing without her and highlighted the importance of maintaining the work she started.
In presenting his daughter as the acting First Lady, he emphasized the responsibility she would carry in preserving her mother’s vision and continuing the initiatives tied to the Office of the First Lady.
