Patience Jonathan
Name: Patience Faka Jonathan
Birthdate: October 25, 1957
Birthplace: Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Occupation: Educator, Civil Servant, Philanthropist
Patience Faka Jonathan (born 25 October 1957) is the current First Lady of Nigeria and a permanent secretary in Bayelsa state. She is married to the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.
Education
Born in Port Harcourt, she got her school certificate in 1976, and passed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 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 UNIPORT and studied Biology and Psychology.
Career
Jonathan started her career as a teacher at the Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and Sports Institute Isake.
She then moved to the banking sector in 1997, where she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt called the Akpo Community Bank. She served as Marketing Manager of Imiete Community Bank. She returned to the classroom briefly again as teacher.
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 became a permanent secretary in her native Bayelsa state.
Philanthropic work
Patience has been recognized for her philanthropic work and political ideas. She received the “Beyond The Tears” International Humanitarian Award New York, USA, in 2008, for her role in the global fight against HIV/AIDS; the African Goodwill Ambassador Award (Los Angeles, USA, 2008) and the recipient of the "Wind of Change" Award from the South/South Women’s Organization.
