LESSONS FROM THE LIVES OF GREAT NIGERIAN WOMEN
EPISODE 7
DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN
FROM EMPOWERING WOMEN AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN TO PUBLIC SERVICE — HER ACHIEVEMENTS, CONTROVERSIES AND LESSONS
Dame Patience Faka Jonathan is one of the prominent Nigerian women whose public life was closely associated with social initiatives, healthcare advocacy and politics, particularly during the period when her husband, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, served as Vice President and later President of Nigeria.
The National Library of Nigeria identifies Patience Jonathan as Nigeria’s First Lady from 2010 to 2015 and Second Lady from 2007 to 2010. She was born on 25 October 1957.
Before her time at the Presidential Villa, she worked as a teacher and was also involved in banking and public service. Biographical accounts report that she obtained an NCE in Mathematics/Biology and later studied Biology and Psychology at the University of Port Harcourt.
In this episode, rather than presenting her story as one of praise alone, we examine the initiatives associated with her, what available sources document, and the controversies and legal cases connected to her public life.
1. Empowering Women Through Skills and Self-Reliance
One of the initiatives associated with Patience Jonathan was the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation.
A directory published by the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLAD) described the foundation as an organisation established to improve the position of women and young people and promote opportunities for self-reliance.
The directory reported that the foundation had trained more than 4,000 women and young people in various skills.
Because this figure comes from an OAFLAD directory, it should be presented as a reported figure rather than as the result of an independent audit.
The broader lesson is that empowering women should not necessarily be limited to financial donations or relief materials. Skills training and opportunities for economic independence can provide a more sustainable pathway for individuals and families.
2. Supporting Children With Heart Conditions
Another major activity associated with the foundation was support for children suffering from heart conditions.
In February 2014, P.M. News reported that more than 800 Nigerian children had received support to travel to India for heart surgery.
The report attributed the programme to the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation.
This is one of the examples of charitable intervention associated with Patience Jonathan that addressed a direct healthcare need.
However, from a journalistic perspective, the reported figure of more than 800 should be treated as a figure reported about the programme rather than as an independently audited number.
The lesson is that healthcare interventions require not only emergency assistance but also proper systems for treatment, follow-up and continuity of care.
3. Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
One of the better-documented aspects of Patience Jonathan’s public advocacy was her involvement in efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies.
In 2012, UNAIDS reported that First Lady Patience Jonathan was leading efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s programme for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT).
She met with senior UNAIDS and PEPFAR officials to discuss ways of expanding the programme and addressing barriers to preventing HIV transmission from mothers to their children.
This demonstrates that her public activities extended beyond charitable programmes to include public-health advocacy and engagement with international health organisations.
4. Encouraging Women to Participate in Leadership
Patience Jonathan also used her public position to encourage greater participation by women in politics and leadership.
In 2014, she called on state governors to implement the 35 per cent affirmative-action policy aimed at increasing women’s representation.
The Nation reported that the Women for Change and Development Initiative, an organisation associated with her, focused on issues including women’s empowerment, poverty reduction, education and greater participation by women in public life.
A Nigerian submission to the United Nations also described the Women for Change Initiative as part of efforts to increase women’s political participation and build the capacity of female aspirants.
However, an important distinction must be made: calling for the implementation of a 35 per cent affirmative-action policy does not mean that the 35 per cent target was achieved across all levels of government.
The lesson is that increasing women’s representation requires more than public statements. It also requires legal frameworks, access to political opportunities, education, campaign resources and public support.
5. Public Health and Community Awareness
Patience Jonathan’s public activities also included health-related advocacy involving women and children.
During the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria in 2014, public awareness became an important part of the country’s response. Patience Jonathan was among public figures who participated in efforts to raise awareness about Ebola and encourage preventive measures.
This demonstrates how prominent public figures can use their visibility to communicate health messages to communities during public-health emergencies.
However, such advocacy is most effective when it is based on accurate medical information and coordinated with public-health authorities.
6. Her Appointment as Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State
Patience Jonathan’s public record was not limited to charitable and advocacy activities.
In 2012, she was appointed Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.
The appointment generated public debate concerning her qualifications, professional background and whether her proximity to political power influenced the appointment.
Reports at the time also highlighted her earlier experience in teaching, banking and public service.
The broader lesson is that appointments to senior public positions should be assessed on the basis of qualifications, experience, transparent procedures and performance rather than political connections.
7. The Forfeiture Cases Involving Funds Linked to Her
This is one of the areas where particular journalistic caution is necessary.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pursued forfeiture proceedings involving funds linked to Patience Jonathan and other entities. Among the amounts involved were approximately $8.4 million and ₦9.2 billion.
In 2019, the Supreme Court dealt with the interim forfeiture of the $8.4 million and returned the matter to the lower court for further proceedings concerning the basis for permanent forfeiture.
On 1 July 2019, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of ₦9.2 billion and $8.4 million involved in the case.
The legal proceedings involved competing claims by the EFCC and the parties connected to the funds.
There were also separate forfeiture proceedings involving other amounts, including approximately ₦2.4 billion.
For this reason, it would be inaccurate to combine all the different cases and simply state that “all Patience Jonathan’s money was forfeited.”
It is equally important to understand that asset forfeiture is not automatically the same thing as a criminal conviction for corruption.
That distinction is essential in responsible journalism.
8. Companies Linked to Her and the Importance of Due Process
There were also legal proceedings involving four companies linked to Patience Jonathan.
In 2021, the Court of Appeal set aside a conviction involving the companies, with the court finding issues relating to fair hearing.
The EFCC had alleged links between the companies and funds it considered unlawful, but the Court of Appeal overturned the relevant conviction.
This case provides another important journalistic lesson: when reporting court cases, journalists must follow the entire legal process and distinguish between allegations, trial-court decisions and decisions reached on appeal.
LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM HER LIFE
1. Women’s empowerment should include skills and economic independence.
2. Supporting children with serious health conditions requires both immediate assistance and sustainable healthcare systems.
3. Women’s and children’s health requires cooperation between governments, civil society and international organisations.
4. Women need opportunities to participate in leadership, but representation should be accompanied by competence, transparency and measurable results.
5. People close to political power face greater responsibility to answer public questions about their actions.
6. Charitable initiatives require systems that can survive beyond the tenure or influence of their founders.
7. Journalism must distinguish between allegations, asset forfeiture and criminal conviction.
8. A lower-court ruling is not necessarily the final position in a legal dispute; subsequent appellate decisions must also be considered.
CONCLUSION
Dame Patience Jonathan remains one of the prominent Nigerian women whose public life intersected with social advocacy, healthcare, women’s empowerment and politics.
The initiatives associated with her included efforts to empower women and young people, support children with heart conditions, promote the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and encourage greater participation by women in leadership.
Some of these activities are documented by government institutions, international organisations and media reports.
At the same time, her proximity to political power brought questions concerning public appointments, politics and financial matters.
Her story therefore should neither be presented as an account of achievements alone nor reduced to controversies.
The broader lesson is this:
A public legacy should be measured by what was done, the impact of those actions, how openly questions were answered, and what the available evidence and court decisions actually establish.
ALFIJIR LABARAI
Truth • Timeliness • Trusted
Sources and Further Reading
National Library of Nigeria — Biographical information on Dame Patience Jonathan.
UNAIDS — Patience Jonathan and Nigeria’s efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
OAFLAD — Information on the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation and Women for Change Initiative.
The Nation — 35 per cent affirmative action and women’s participation.
P.M. News — Report on support for Nigerian children receiving heart surgery.
The Guardian — Court proceedings involving ₦9.2 billion and $8.4 million.
The Guardian — Supreme Court proceedings concerning the $8.4 million interim forfeiture.
Channels Television — Court of Appeal decision involving companies linked to Patience Jonathan.
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