It was on the 10th day of February, 1970 that an angel expected for months finally arrived the home of Chief Bernard S. Idiong of Obio Akpa in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, as his wife Prof. Stella O. Idiong (nee Ukut) was delivered of a beautiful baby girl.
The new born was the third child of the houshold and second of girls. She was named Martha and when she became of school age was enrolled in Jubilee Primary School, Aka Offot, Uyo for her primary education. There she went through the grades and on completion obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). She then proceeded to the Cornelia Connelly College (CCC), Uyo where she sat for and obtained her West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSC).
She gained admission, studied and graduated the University of Uyo, Uyo with a Bachelors Degree (B. Sc Hons) in Biochemistry, and further went ahead to earn a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious Lagos State University (LASU). Not satisfied with her academic achievements, she added yet another feather to her cap when she enrolled in the School of Oceanography, Lagos where she obtained a certificate in Aquaculture.
With these qualifications, she immersed herself passionately in aquaculture farming. She is deeply industrious.
In 1996, she got married to Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel of Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State and together with the husband have lovely kids. Today, that gentleman is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
She is a deeply spiritual, a devout and committed Christian of the United Evangelical (Qua Iboe) Church faith. She loves singing, as well as reaching out to help people.
As first lady of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel has touched lives in many remarkable ways through her pet project, FeyRep. The down trodden, widows, widowers, less privileged have been touched with her milk of human kindness.
Your Excellency, today you’ve earned another merit badge. It is hard won, your plaques and certificates will attest. It is one that marks you as a warrior, survivor and a super-human for having bested life’s strange twists and turns and come out victorious. You have turned 50 and it is a landmark.
As you sound the happy Golden gong, my wishes for you are grace for long life and God’s protection. The courage to face the daunting challenges of public life. The fortitude to forge ahead and achieve your dreams and desires and the disposition to continue to touch lives and change humanity for the better.
May every unfulfilled dream of yours during the past half century come true. Don’t you dare start calling yourself old. There is a lot in your life, yet to unfold. Don’t even think of calling yourself weak. Of strength and youthfulness, let your personality reek. Don’t just assume that you are past your prime. Life will still offer many more precious moments, which will create memories sublime.
Turning fifty is when you will realize, that life is not a race, it is a wonderful prize. You will start slowing down and begin to cherish, even the quirky moments that once seemed garish. Such is life after fifty four– beautiful, captivating and utterly heavenly.
You are in the best phase of life. You can complain that your knees ache when you don’t want to go to work and you can say that you feel young at heart when you want to travel. Now that you have turned fifty, you are officially allowed to be forgetful, have selective memory and only remember the things that make you happy
Celebrating your 50th birthday is one of the greatest feats one can ever achieve. Being in this world for about half century and years is no easy achievement. As you look back on five wonderful decade of your life, as you cherish every moment with your husband, our amiable Governor and your family, as you think about those hard struggles and those beautiful days. Its a special day, laced in gold. Happy birthday, mum
Aniekeme Finbarr is the Author of Dare it, Do it.
Source: Aniekeme Finbarr
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