Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has said he found a mother figure in his wife, Nonye Soludo, after the death of his biological mother at the age of eight.
Soludo made the statement in Awka on Thursday, during a modest celebration to mark his wife’s 55th birthday.
The event followed a series of medical outreach activities carried out by the First Lady in hospitals across the state.
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Reflecting on his childhood, the governor said, “I lost my mother when I was eight, but in her [Nonye], I found a mother, a lover.”
He continued, “Whatever we have been able to accomplish in life, she is the machine, the engine, that powers the house. Don’t be deceived by her soft spoken words because behind that is a woman of steel, a woman of character. My children and I are lucky to have a mother like her.”
Earlier in the day, the First Lady visited patients in several hospitals including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi and the General Hospital, Okpoko.
The outreach provided free surgeries, medical treatments and financial assistance to many patients.
Mrs Soludo, who is the founder of the “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo” initiative, said she has long preferred spending her birthdays with the sick and underprivileged instead of holding parties.
“Even during my single years, I celebrated with orphans, the sick and the poor. Celebrating with the less privileged has always been a part of me,” she told reporters.
“My happiest moments are when I see people smile. That is all I need to feel fulfilled.”
The governor described her actions as an example of selfless service, saying the resources used for the outreach were contributed by public-spirited individuals.
“This is the kind of charity that runs something from within. The day I knew that I was very blessed was the day I won her heart,” he added.
The event was part of a series of engagements held in honour of the First Lady’s birthday, which Governor Soludo said was not just a celebration, but a moment for giving and reflection.
