Dr. (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua
Dr (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua is a woman of many parts-a passionate philanthropist, entrepreneur, Mother and a relentless giver with a heart of gold for helping the less privileged and deprived in the society. Dr. Obua is the amiable Wife of the Chief Security Officer of the Nigerian President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Widely recognised as one of the most philanthropic woman in Africa, Dr. Obua lives up to this status in so many ways. One of which is the setting up of an organisation close to her heart through which she has reached out to thousands of less privileged in Nigeria and beyond – a result oriented NGO, named the Branzuk Ikuli Center for Social Rehabilitation. As President and Founder, she has reached out to thousands of less privileged in the country and beyond. The foundation is engaged in all areas of human development with focus on improving education, health and economic self-reliance of the less privilege in the society.She singlehandedly erected a 1000 sitter church in her home town, Bayelsa State. In the Nigerian clime, Madam Obua is widely known as a friend and mother to the motherless.
Queen Esther Magazine awarded her in recognition of her humanitarian gesture to the less privilege December 2012, also Best Moment Magazine Awarded her as a Nation Builder in 2012. She was also awarded by the office of the Queen of Aso as an Outstanding leader with Queen of Aso Outstanding Award 2012. as a firm believer of the true power of an empowered woman and youth, Dr Obua was deservedly honoured with an investiture as the patron of World Fashion Organisation by the President of the World Fashion Week, Parco De Jaimes, in Paris.
She is a firm believer of the fact that Africa’s propensity to be free from dependence on aid to meaningful development, lies in her ability to develop and make commercially viable, its creative fashion industry. This has earned her a place in history as the first black woman to bring the World Fashion University to Nigeria.
She has indeed demonstrated that through the fear of God, hard work, integrity, a contagious humility and perseverance, that a woman can achieve greatness and remain at the pinnacle of her endeavours.
Dr. Obua has distinguished herself as a role model to emulate in the society. She is an accomplished administrator, as a member of the Administrative Staff Forum, Member Association of Nigerian University professional Administrators and Member, Niger Delta Women Association.
A princess of hope, a nation builder, a woman with a heart of ‘Gold’; all these virtues has endeared her to the hearts of people, which explains why she is being honoured in several quarters, as the National Grand Patron Niger Delta Youth Movement (Women Wing),Chairman Board of trustee, Niger Women Development International Initiatives, as African Icon of our Generation Award by Accolade Communications, Publishers of accolade Magazine, Woman of the year 2012 by the beauty pageant organizers of the Finest Girl in Nigeria; and most recently, the president of the Association of business Specialists and Entrepreneurs, Nigeria; amongst others.