National Chronicle honours Mrs. Jonathan

The National Chronicle, a newspaper of national interest, has named Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan has its African woman of the Year and Blessing Okagbare as African sports Woman of the year 2014.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of National Chronicle, Timothy Okojie–Ave, said they arrived at the choices after a rigorous screening through an opinion poll, which was conducted for the African Woman of the year and African Sports Woman of the year 2014 through dedicated telephone lines, emails and face book.

Mrs. Jonathan popularly called Mama Peace was picked ahead of her Ghanaian counterpart, Lordina Mahama and Ms. Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife of late South-African Icon, Nelson Mandela to the second and third position respectively.

Explaining the process of nomination, the organizers said readers were ask to send sms for their choice in 2013 to November 2014. “At the end of the e-voting, the Nigerian first lady came top as well as Blessing Okagbare for the African Sports of the year.

“Dame Patience pet project Women for Change and Development Initiative got her the ticket for her passion about the less privilege in the society, girl child education and her zeal to see woman participate actively in politics from grassroots to the top, accounted for the massive votes she garnered from most voters, especially woman who participate in e-voting.

“As President of African First Ladies, she has shape the cause of women development in Africa and put a smile on the faces of women in general,” the group said.

Also speaking on Okagbare, the organizers said “Blessing Okagbare’s commonwealth gold haul put her on top without much rivalry.”
The award will be presented to the first lady and Blessing Okagbare in Abuja in a date to be announced soon. Also to be honoured on the night are Dan Nwanynawu, the immediate past Chairman of Labour Party and Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State, FCT.