In an emotional celebration marked by tributes and gratitude, family, friends and respected Nigerians gathered in Lagos to honour Mrs. Stella Kragha on her 80th birthday, describing her as a quiet nation-builder whose life has been shaped by resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment to others.

Though not a public figure in the conventional sense, Mrs. Kragha has left a lasting impression on countless lives through her generosity, mentorship, and moral example.

From raising her children to nurturing communities and mentoring young people through church programmes, guests described her as the kind of woman “whose impact is felt more than it is announced.”

Born on 4 June 1945, Mrs. Kragha lost both her parents by the age of 12 and spent her early years moving across several parts of Nigeria. Despite these challenges, she rose to become an accomplished librarian and senior executive at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

At the event, her children and grandchildren paid touching tributes to a woman they described as their “anchor and light.”

Her son, Mr. Anibor Kragha, former Chief Operating Officer of NNPC and current Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), described his mother as “one of the unsung heroes who help build a nation not by leading from the front, but by raising others to stand tall.”

“I never imagined anything like this could happen for me,” Mrs. Kragha said during her remarks, visibly moved. “If you knew my story, you’d understand that getting to 80 could only have been by the grace of God. I may be the smallest in my family, but I have always felt the strongest, though not by might or power, but by His Spirit.”

The celebration, which drew guests from across Nigeria’s economic, religious, and professional sectors, reflected not just the milestone of age, but the value of a life defined by humility and strength.

Her enduring bond with her children, the love she shows to extended family, and the emotional intelligence she modelled in her personal and professional life were recurring themes throughout the evening.

Kragha, known for her spontaneous hospitality shared a final message to the younger generation, asking them trust in God, hold on to their family, and never forget the power of gratitude.