Catholic Women Name First Lady Dame Patience “Mother Theresa of Today”

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was on Wednesday
decorated as “Mother Theresa of Today’’ by the Ladies of
St. Mulumba (LSM) of the Catholic Church of Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan
was decorated because of the humanitarian works done
through her pet project, the Women for Change and
Development Initiative (W4CDI).
Ngor Nwachukwu, the President of LSM, decorated the her
when she led its members on a courtesy visit to the first
lady at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“W4CDI has recorded positive changes in the society; there
is a strong wind of change blowing off poverty, disease,
hunger.
“And bringing along empowerment and sustaining hope for
women in particular and to all in general.”
Nwachukwu, who also commended the first lady for her
support to the president, described her role as a “family
model’’ in line with the advocacy of Pope Francis.
In her remark, Jonathan commended them for their visit,
saying it was a sign of solidarity and support, especially for
the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
She also thanked the group for its acknowledgment of her
“modest contributions to the society with this decoration as
Mother Theresa of Today.
“It was Mother Theresa of old who said ‘being unwanted,
unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody I think that is a
much greater hunger, a greater poverty than the person who
has nothing to eat’.
“This saying has been my propelling force for the advocacy
and policy dialogue to enhance the status of women in the
society.
“Giving hope to the despaired, relief for the sick, training and empowerment for youths and women.’’
Jonathan reiterated the need to imbibe peace in their daily endeavours. “As wives, mothers and sisters, we have important roles toplay in moving Nigeria forward on the path of peace and development.
“As mothers and role models, we owe it a duty to our
families and our nation to build our homes as well as theneeded change in our communities,’’ she said.
NAN reports that other past decorations on the first lady included Epitome of Justice and Peace, Phenomenal Woman of Substance, Dorcas and Esther of Old, among others.
The LSM, which was established in 1978, has more than 10,000 members across the country.