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 to play 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 the needed 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.