The enduring legacy of Akwa Ibom’s late First Lady, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Eno, took centre stage as Governor Umo Eno, members of her family, government officials and the Christian community gathered in Eket to honour her life and celebrate the values she left behind.
At the second memorial service held at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, Governor Eno described his late wife as a remarkable woman whose influence, compassion, sacrifice and love transcended her immediate family.
Reflecting on their 40-year marriage, the Governor said their relationship was anchored on deep companionship, friendship, love, confidence and shared faith, adding that she remained a source of strength through the triumphs and trials of their family journey.
Governor Eno said the pain of her passing remained difficult, but stressed that her legacy continued to speak through the people and values she invested in.
He particularly commended Lady Helen Eno-Obareki for documenting her mother’s life in the book, The Patience to Build: Lessons from My Mother, describing it as a record of a woman whose greatest investment was in people, especially her children and family.
The Governor urged parents to deliberately invest in the lives of their children and others, saying their enduring legacy would be found in the values they instil, lessons they teach and lives they positively influence.
For Lady Helen Eno-Obareki, her mother was a phenomenal heroine whose life was a blessing to humanity. She thanked God for the grace and strength to build on the foundation her mother left behind, while appreciating Akwa Ibom people for their prayers, love and support.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, recalled the late First Lady as a great achiever whose spiritual and moral convictions were reflected in her compassionate service to humanity.
She commended Lady Eno-Obareki for sustaining her mother’s vision for women in Akwa Ibom and supporting the Governor’s ARISE Agenda, pledging continued support for the administration’s development efforts.
The service also featured tributes and personal recollections from Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Rehoboth Eno, the church, grandchildren and other family members.
Delivering an exhortation from Proverbs 10:7, titled “The Memory of the Righteous is Blessed,” Apostle Samuel Effiong said while some people are forgotten after death, others remain alive in the hearts of generations because of the impact they made.
He charged Christians to live purposeful lives that inspire, bless, motivate and give hope to others.
The unveiling of The Patience to Build: Lessons from My Mother, authored by Lady Eno-Obareki, provided the defining moment of the memorial, preserving in print the memories, values and lessons of the late First Lady for generations to come.