Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, his family, and wellwishers have described the life of the departed First Lady of the State, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Eno, as exceptionally inspirational, impactful and exemplary, even as they mourned her departure.
Delivering a tribute at the second memorial service to commemorate her demise, Saturday, September 26, 2026, at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, the Governor noted that the trauma of her passing has been challenging.
According to the Governor, “There are some people whose lives cannot be adequately measured by the number of years they have spent with us. Their presence becomes woven into the fabric of our families. Their words become part of our memories; and their works become a legacy that continues to speak long after they have departed. My beloved wife, Kemi, and mother of our children, was such a woman.”
He recalled that for forty years of their marriage, their union was that of deep-rooted companion, friendship, love, confidante and strength in the journey of family and faith.
“We shared joys and sorrows; triumphs and trials; laughter and tears. Through it all, she remained a remarkable woman whose influence, compassion, love, and sacrifice reached far beyond our home,” he added.
The Governor commended his daughter, Lady Helen Eno-Obareki, for her impressive book about her mother, describing the work as “more than a collection of memories and lessons. It is a record of love of a woman whose greatest investment was not in possession or achievement but in people, especially our children and family.”
He charged parents to invest in their children and other people by continuing to live through them in the values planted, the lessons taught, and the lives touched for the better.
In her remarks, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Noble Lady Helen Eno-Obareki described her departed mother as a phenomenal heroine whose existence was a blessing to humanity.
She expressed gratitude to God for the focus and strength to build on the foundation laid by her, and thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for their prayers, love and support which, according to her, enhanced her success in upholding the mother’s virtues and principles for the benefit of all.
In her words of condolence, the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi described the departed First Lady as a great achiever who had conquered her world through strong spiritual and moral principles as evident in her compassionate services to humanity.
She also commended Lady Eno- Obareki for working hard to sustain her mother’s vision for Akwa Ibom women and for supporting the Governor to interprete his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
She pledged to support the Governor beyond 2027 to bring the dividends of democracy to the people in all sectors of the economy and the polity.
Similarly, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Rehoboth Eno, the Church, grandchildren and others recalled their fun memories with her, and prayed God to rest her soul.
In his exhortation on the topic: “The Memory Of The Righteous Is Blessed”, drawn from Proverbs 10:7, Apostle Samuel Effiong noted that some people die and are forgotten but some die and live forever in the hearts of the people.
Apostle Effiong admonished that the memory of the righteous is a blessing because of his or her impact, stressing that a child of God never dies without leaving imprints on the sands of time.
He admonished believers not to live for themselves alone but for the benefit of others and for God’s blessings and impact on their lives.
Pastor Effiong encouraged Christians to live a life that inspires, motivates, blesses and gives hope to others.
The high point of the event was the unveiling of the book “The Patience to Build: Lessons from my Mother,” written by Lady Eno-Obareki. See less
