Tinubu,Gowon,Jonathan, Others Celebrate Prof.Mary Lar @90
From Tongnaan Bawa,
Jos
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described Prof.Mary Lar, widow of the first civilian Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, as a woman of substance who has touched lives beyond measure in Nigeria and the world.
The President who was represented by Senator Simon Lalong at Prof.Lar’s 90th
birthday celebration and unveiling of a book “Life With My Best Friend” in Abuja, said the matriarch of the Lar Family remains a radiant symbol for education and hope.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media of Senator Lalong, Tinubu
said among several accomplishments, Amb.Lar remains one of the first female professors of Northern Nigerian origin, a distinction that has inspired generations of women and girls across the region and the country.
Speaking of her late husband, the President said Chief Lar and himself were fellow travelers in the long and often arduous journey toward a democratic Nigeria.
Though they hailed from different regions and pursued different political platforms, he said, they had a shared conviction that “Nigeria must never be governed in fear, but in freedom; never by force, but by the rule of law; never in fragments, but as one indivisible nation and in unity.”
In his remarks,former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, described Prof. Lar as an epitome of beauty, intellect and compassion, having sacrificed for other people, particularly women.
Gowon commended Prof.Lar’s resilience and diligence in service which he said had raised her to national and international prominence.
Also speaking, former President Goodluck Jonathan said the contributions of Prof. Lar remains a point of reference to the younger generation, considering her level of achievement and humility.
Dr. Jonathan asked the younger generation to emulate Amb.Lar and also build on her legacies so as to enable the nation to attain fulfilment.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, in his speech,praised the celebrant for her commitment to God and her loyalty to her late husband which made it possible for him to serve Plateau and the nation effectively.
The book reviewer, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the the newly published memoir, “Life With My Best Friend,” is not merely a book. “It is a national treasure – an intimate window into a partnership that shaped not only a family, but also a democratic ideal.”
“In those pages, the nation rediscovers the power of quiet sacrifice, of love tethered to public duty, and of a life lived for something far greater than self,” Gana added.
