The immediate past minister of women affairs Pauline Tallen has been described as a great woman that would have reached much greater heights in politics.
Nigeria’s former minister of women affairs Zainab Maina who stated this while felicitating with Tallen during a ceremony meant to mark her 65th birthday added that the celebrant was schemed out in politics due to her female status.
While stressing that Nigeria still needed Tallen in office to continue her goodness Maina, however, expressed confidence that a woman would one day become the President of Nigeria with the kind of foundation already laid by women like them.
The event, which ended with a dinner at Tallen’s residence, commenced with a Holy Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja, presided over by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama.
Dignitaries present at the glamorous event included former Gov Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; former Gov James Ngilari of Adamawa; Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Jamila Ibrahim; Sen Aisha Dahiru Binani.
Also in attendance were two former ministers of women affairs, Zainab Maina and Inna Ciroma; former Minister of Power, Prince Jeddy Agba, former Kaduna State Governor’s wife, Mrs Amina Yakowa; former Supreme Court Justice, Amina Augie.
The list also included former EFCC boss, Mrs Farida Waziri; Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, Health and Human Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe; Solicitor General of Nigeria, Mrs Beatrice Jeddi-Agba.
Not left out in the event, were equally the APC National Women Leader, Dr Blessing Agbomhere; first female and current Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi; former Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire, Martin Adamu.
Several distinguished guests took turns to extol Dame Tallen in their goodwill messages to her at the ceremony.
While eulogizing the former deputy governor of plateau, Mrs Abacha, recalled meeting her for the first time in the Presidential Villa when Sani Abacha was Head of State and since then they both remained in touch “because of her exciting and irresistible aura”.
Wife of the late former head of state called for inter-religious unity among Nigerians, and urged Tallen and others, who might find themselves in any position of authority, to pursue the course as top priority in order to ensure peace, unity, security and national cohesion.
Also speaking, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Jamilu Ibrahim, said that her rise to the ministerial position would not have been possible without the mentorship of the celebrant.
Ibrahim maintained that Tallen inspired and encouraged her all along, right from when they first met when she was SSA to the Governor of Kwara many years ago, adding that God was not yet done with Tallen.
Also commenting, Former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Inna Ciroma, recalled how Tallen, on assumption of office as women affairs minister, first reached out to her predecessors to meet and learn from them adding that Tallen’s passion for women development was second to none.
On her part, Mrs Amina Yakowa described Tallen as a devout Christian and Papal Knight, whose constituency was the Church and God and urged her to continue trusting in God’s ways and guidance.
In her remarks, Sen Binani, while pouring encomiums on Tallen, described her as an irrepressible emancipator of women, who God had blessed as two-time minister and one-time deputy governor, which opportunity she utilized to put indelible marks on the sands of time.
Binani specially appreciated Tallen for immensely standing by her and sacrificing for her during the 2022 Adamawa Governorship Primary Election.
Also, the APC Women Leader, Agbomhere, described Tallen as down-to-earth, and recalled the first time she met the celebrant and was swept off her feet by Tallen’s “magnetizing aura”.
Prof. Florence Obi, who presided over the cutting of the cake, summed up the eulogies, describing Tallen as phenomenal, outstanding, warm, charming, exciting, a lover of people and special creation of God.
While responding to the gathering of distinguished quests at the event, Tallen thanked her guests for the goodwill messages and for finding time to honor her by coming to celebrate her 65th birthday.
