By Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
There have been outpour of accolades on Barrister Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki as she clocked 53 yesterday.
The social media was awash with congratulatory messages to celebrate the Founder- President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WFBA).
Prominent among those who felicitated with the former First lady of Kwara State are her husband and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed and former speaker of KWHA, Hon. Rasak Atunwa.
Others are members of the National Assembly, Kwara lawmakers, politicians, forum of wives of senators, friends and associates as well as social media friends.
Celebrating his wife, the Senate President declared love for her just as he described her as his best friend and extraordinary mother to their children.
In a tweet to celebrate her birthday he wrote: Happy Birthday to my dear wife, best friend and extraordinary mother of our children! @ToyinSaraki, we love you dearly”
In his message, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed said the celebrant is a lover of humanity, philanthropist and quintessential mother.
A quintessential mother, lover of humanity and philanthropist of national and international repute,
It’s phenomenal to join you in celebrating another impactful year.
We celebrate you for making positive impact on the lives of many across political, religious and ethnic divides, particularly for the emancipation of women and children,” the message read.
The former Speaker of the Kwara House of Assembly, Hon. Razak Atunwa, in a tweet, said the celebrant is a source of blessing.
”Congratulations @ToyinSaraki as you add another year, you are indeed a blessing, continue to flourish,” he wrote.
The Senator representing Kwara South, Rafiu Ibrahim, lauded the former first lady for being pillar of support for her husband.
He tweeted: “Happy birthday to a woman of many virtues; Barrister Oluwatoyin Saraki, a pillar to our Leader. Almighty continue to bless you.
Similarly, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mrs. Ebun Owolabi, described the celebrant as a dedicated mother and wife.
“I celebrate today a caring, loving, dedicated mother, wife and sister Barrister Toyin Saraki, Happy Birthday and many happy returns.”
A media aide to the senate President, Bamikole Omisore in celebrating Saraki tweeted:”Happy birthday to our dearest aunty @ToyinSaraki As you continue to show up for us, God will show up for you. From #Abibanks family.”
The 8th Senate Wives also felicitated with one of their own and chairman of their forum.
From the twitter handle @NGRSenateWives they expressed appreciation to the celebrant for being “a beacon of joy.”
“Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our beloved Forum Chair @ToyinSaraki Thank You for being a beacon of joy to us all.
In her congratulatory message, the Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Kwara State, Hajia Ramat Razaq Oganija, lauded Saraki for making positive impact in the lives of people through her philanthropy.
“I wish to state unequivocally that your home value and international recognition can’t be quantified, as your philanthropic gestures through your pet project (Wellbeing Foundation Africa), has carved a niche across the globe. As such, it has indeed endeared you to the heart of many, both home and abroad. We are indeed, proud of you, Your Excellency!
“Personally, I am extremely happy to rejoice and identify with you on this special day of yours, not just as the wife of our leader, the President of the Senate, but also as a mother and woman with kind and tender heart, whose utmost agenda is womanhood and child healthcare across the globe.
The Chairman, Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo joined other well wishers to congratulate Saraki on her birthday.
In her message, she described Mrs Saraki as a woman of substance with great passion for women and young children.
“As the African Ambassador on Maternal and Child Health Care, and the founder of Wellbeing Africa, I am not surprised at your very high record of achievements in service to humanity as a daughter from a great palace with a humble and noble background because you are endowed with very rare qualities of a mother, leader, wife and an achiever of no measure”, Sarat said.
Deluge of praises and flowery words were showered on the celebrant by her friends on Facebook and followers on twitter to celebrate her on her birthday.
Responding, Saraki in a tweet last night expressed gratitude to those who felicitated with her.
“I am humbled and hugely grateful for the love, good wishes and heartfelt prayers that I’ve received from everyone around the world as I mark my 53rd birthday today. May the Lord God Almighty bless you always, Amen.”
“Each year as I mark my birthday, I reflect anew on the world around me, and how I can improve outcomes for pregnant women and their newborns.
“As I turn 53, I am celebrating a remarkable innovation in midwifery education through training midwives around the world on lifelike anatomical models, which @wellbeingafrica has deployed across Nigeria in building midwives key skills, capacities, competencies and resilience to save lives, in supporting the call for proposals from national country midwifery associations to participate in this innovation for #50000HappyBirthdays.”
