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'{{Short description|First Lady of Nigeria (2010–2015)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Patience Jonathan | nickname = | image = Patience Jonathan 2013.jpg | caption = | order1 = Second Lady of Nigeria | 1blankname1 = {{nowrap|Vice President}} | 1namedata1 = [[Goodluck Jonathan]] | 1blankname2 = {{nowrap|[[First Lady of Nigeria|First Lady]]}} | 1namedata2 = [[Turai Yar'Adua]] | term_label1 = In role | term_start1 = 29 May 2007 | term_end1 = 6 May 2010 | predecessor2 = [[Amina Titi Atiku-Abubakar|Amina Atiku-Abubakar]] | successor2 = Amina Sambo | party = | office = [[First Lady of Nigeria]] | president = [[Goodluck Jonathan]] | term_label = In role | term_start = 6 May 2010 | term_end = 29 May 2015 | predecessor = [[Turai Yar'Adua]] | successor = [[Aisha Buhari]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|10|25|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Port Harcourt]], [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]], [[British Nigeria]] (now in [[Rivers State, Nigeria]]) | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = [[University of Port Harcourt]] | birth_name = Patience Faka Iwari | spouse = [[Goodluck Jonathan]] | children = 2 | residence = [[Old GRA, Port Harcourt]]<ref name="nationalnetwork">{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/vol10n25/patiencejonathansvisit.html|title=First Lady, Patience Jonathan Ends Visit To Rivers|date=2013-07-02|work=[[Nationalnetworkonline.com]]|location=[[Port Harcourt]], [[Nigeria]]|publisher=Network Printing and Publishing Company|accessdate=2014-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714112954/http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/vol10n25/patiencejonathansvisit.html|archive-date=14 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="vanguardngr.com">{{cite web|last=Onoyume|first=Jimitota|title=Burial of First Lady's mother: Police beef up security in Port Harcourt|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/burial-first-ladys-mother-police-beef-security-port-harcourt/|location=[[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]|work=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]|date=2013-10-31|accessdate=2014-05-31}}</ref> | nationality = [[Nigerian]] }} <!-- '''Dame''' (WHAT DAMEHOOD) --> '''Patience Faka Jonathan''' ({{nee}} '''Iwari''';<ref name="buzznigeria.com">{{Cite news|url=https://buzznigeria.com/funniest-quotes-patience-jonathan/|title=Patience Jonathan Biography, Children, Funniest Quotes You've Never Heard|date=2014-08-20|work=BuzzNigeria|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref> born 25 October 1957) is a Nigerian civil servant who served as the [[First Lady of Nigeria]] from 2010 to 2015 and second lady of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. She is the wife of former [[President of Nigeria|President]] and [[Vice President of Nigeria]] [[Goodluck Jonathan|Goodluck Ebele Jonathan]]. She served as a [[Permanent secretary|Permanent Secretary]] in [[Bayelsa State]].<ref>"Lady of a Nation", ''Nigeria Stepping Ahead'', Toronto, June 2010.</ref> ==Education== Patience Faka Iwari was born in [[Port Harcourt]], [[Rivers State]], Nigeria, where she earned her school certificate in 1976, and passed the [[West African School Certificate]] Examination (WASCE) in 1980. In 1989, she obtained the National Certificate of Education (NCE) in [[Mathematics]] and [[Biology]] from the [[Rivers State College of Arts and Science]], Port Harcourt. She then proceeded to the [[University of Port Harcourt]] and studied for a [[BEd]] in Biology and [[Psychology]]. She was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] from the [[University of Port Harcourt|University of Port Harcou]]<nowiki/>rt.<ref name="Who's Who">{{cite web|url=http://www.africa-confidential.com/whos-who-profile/id/3317 |title=Profile: Patience Jonathan |publisher=Africa Confidential |year=2011 |accessdate=2012-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/07/dame-patience-jonathan-the-perm-sec/ |title=Dame Patience Jonathan, the Perm. Sec - Vanguard News |publisher=Vanguardngr.com |date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2014-06-20}}</ref> ==Career== Jonathan started her career as a teacher at the [[Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt]] and at the Sports Institute, Isaka. She then moved to the banking sector in 1997 where she served as the marketing manager of Imiete Community Bank. After which she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt called the Akpo Community Bank. She then returned to the classroom briefly again as a teacher. Eventually she was transferred to the [[Bayelsa State]] Ministry of Education, where she served until 29 May 1999, when her husband became the deputy governor of the state. On 12 July 2012, she was appointed as permanent secretary in Bayelsa state by [[Henry Dickson|Henry Seriake Dickson]]. The appointment was unique considering she had been on leave from the civil service for over 13 years, since her husband became deputy governor in 1999,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punchng.com/news/bayelsa-outrage-over-patience-jonathans-appointment-as-permanent-secretary/ |title=Bayelsa: Outrage over Patience Jonathan's appointment as Permanent Secretary |publisher=Punchng.com |date=2012-07-12 |accessdate=2014-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215175114/http://www.punchng.com/news/bayelsa-outrage-over-patience-jonathans-appointment-as-permanent-secretary/ |archivedate=15 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/07/knocks-trail-patience-jonathans-appointment-as-perm-sec/ |title=Knocks trail Patience Jonathan's appointment as Perm Sec - News |publisher=Dailyindependentnig.com |accessdate=2014-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215165740/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/07/knocks-trail-patience-jonathans-appointment-as-perm-sec/ |archivedate=15 December 2013}}</ref> and some critics argued it was a national embarrassment<ref>[http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/44530-dickson-patience-jonathan-and-a-controversial-appointment-] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822115433/http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/44530-dickson-patience-jonathan-and-a-controversial-appointment-|date=22 August 2012}}</ref> highlighting there was no merit or evidence of any recent performance to warrant a promotion to the peak of the [[civil service]]. It is alleged that [[Henry Dickson|Henry Seriake Dickson]] was sponsored to his governorship position by her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathans-handpicked-candidate-seriake-dickson-declared-winner-bayelsa-gubernatorial-poll |title=Jonathan's Handpicked Candidate Seriake Dickson Declared Winner of Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll |date=12 February 2012 |publisher=Sahara Reporters |accessdate=2014-06-20}}</ref> She and her husband have two children - Arewera Adolphus Jonathan (a boy) and Aruabi Jonathan (a girl).<ref name="buzznigeria.com"/> ==Philanthropic work== Jonathan has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for her philanthropic work and political pragmatism. She received the "Beyond The Tears" International Humanitarian Award [[New York City|New York]], [[United States|USA]], in 2008,<ref name="Who's Who"/> for her role in the global fight against [[HIV/AIDS]]; the African Goodwill Ambassador Award ([[Los Angeles]], USA, 2008) and was the recipient of the "Wind of Change" Award from the South/South Women's Organization.{{cn|date=March 2024}} When Goodluck Jonathan served as a Governor between 2005 and 2007, Patience Jonathan served the state in the capacity of the First Lady of [[Bayelsa State]], Nigeria. During this period, she founded many [[Philanthropy|philanthropic]] and women empowerment programs, among them are the A-Aruere Reachout Foundation (AARF),<ref name=Reachout>{{cite web|url=http://aaruerareachoutfoundation.org/|title=A.Aaruera Reachout Foundation|publisher=A.Aaruera Reachout Foundation|accessdate=2012-01-28|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114030339/http://aaruerareachoutfoundation.org/|archivedate=14 January 2012}}</ref> which she set up to improve the status and earning capacity of Nigerian women and youths. The foundation already has its focus on supporting and assisting children with heart-related problems. ==Other== [[File:Patience Jonathan.jpg|thumb|Jonathan in 2012.]] It was announced 4 September 2012 that she was hospitalized in [[Germany]] following a severe bout of [[Foodborne illness|food poisoning]] that lasted for days. Patience Jonathan fell sick about 10 days earlier, following her hosting of a summit of first ladies from across [[Africa]]. Patience was discharged from the Horst Schmidt Klinik in [[Wiesbaden]] on 2 October 2012.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201210040116.html | title= Nigeria: Patience Jonathan Leaves German Hospital, Checks into Hotel | year = 2012 | publisher = [[Allafrica.com]] | publication-place = [[Africa]] | accessdate = 18 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=ADIGUN and GAMBRELL|first=BASHIR and JON|title=OFFICIAL: NIGERIA FIRST LADY HOSPITALIZED ABROAD|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/official-nigeria-first-lady-hospitalized-abroad#overlay-context=article/un-says-100000-refugees-fled-syria-august|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=4 September 2012}}</ref> When the national media noticed her unusual disappearance from public view, the approach of her office was to initially deflect attention by denying she was in Germany to utilize the high-quality healthcare provision of the country. Her spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, released a statement stating that she had only gone to Germany "to take time off to rest" and not for medical purposes. This was to avoid highlighting the presidential family were avoiding using the [[Health care in Nigeria#Criticism|low-quality healthcare system]] provided for the Nigerian citizens and prefer higher quality foreign provisions for themselves at [[Taxpayer|taxpayers]] expense when needed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Admin |first=Web |url=http://www.africanspotlight.com/2012/09/03/patience-jonathan-is-not-hospitalized-shes-just-resting-abroad-spokesman/ |title=Patience Jonathan Is Not Hospitalized, She's Just Resting Abroad – Spokesman |publisher=African Spotlight |accessdate=2014-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215170110/http://www.africanspotlight.com/2012/09/03/patience-jonathan-is-not-hospitalized-shes-just-resting-abroad-spokesman/ |archive-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Patience Jonathan broke down in tears on hearing the latest news on the abduction of the girls of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok. She was involved in controversy during the crisis over [[Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping|230 Chibok girls]] abducted by Boko Haram in [[north-east]] Nigeria.<ref name=BBCNews>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27283278 |title=BBCNews reports Nigeria schoolgirl abductions, protest leader detained |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2014 |accessdate=5 May 2014}}</ref> ==See also== * [[List of people from Port Harcourt]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Wikiquote}} {{S-start}} {{s-hon}} {{Succession box|title=[[First Lady of Nigeria]]|before=[[Turai Yar'Adua]]|after=[[Aisha Buhari]]}} {{S-end}} {{First Ladies and Gentleman of Nigeria|state=autocollapse}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jonathan, Patience}} [[Category:First ladies of Nigeria]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Port Harcourt]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Nigerian HIV/AIDS activists]] [[Category:Nigerian women in politics]] [[Category:Politicians from Port Harcourt]] [[Category:Nigerian Christians]] [[Category:Activists from Rivers State]] [[Category:University of Port Harcourt alumni]] [[Category:People from Rivers State]] [[Category:First ladies of Bayelsa State]] [[Category:21st-century Nigerian women]] [[Category:21st-century Nigerian people]]'