By YEMISI SULEIMAN

Former First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Onari Duke is an ideal role model for all age groups. She  found her passion and is using it to touch lives. With many Nigerians losing their battle to cancer and HIV, Mrs Duke believes positive changes can be made through the activities of The Child Survival and Development Organization of Nigeria, CS-DON.

An initiative of the former First Lady; CS-DON is a non-governmental organization established in 2002 with the primary objective of providing support for maternal and child healthcare initiatives in the country. One of such initiatives is the establishment of the Calabar Women & Children Hospital (CWCH), Calabar, which is accredited by the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.

Mrs Duke speaks on the Run-for-a-Cure Charity Walk which held in Lagos penultimate Saturday with participants drawn from varying sectors; including her views on life, fashion and style.

What is the Run-for-a Cure 7km Charity Walk all about?

CS-DON organized the sixth Run for a Cure 7KM Charity Walk event aimed at creating awareness for breast, cervical and childhood cancer. The RUN began at 7:30 am from The Muri Okunola Park, off Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos to the Bar Beach along Ahmadu Bello and back to Muri Okunola Park.

*Mrs. Onari Duke

The participants in the RUN were  drawn from different sectors including the corporate, education and entertainment Industries. Twelve trophies were won at the race for the first second and third positions, as well as oldest and youngest participants. There were also awards for the best teams, T-shirt designs, most exciting team spirit and largest teams.

What measures did you put in place to ensure the safety of participants?

Traffic control and security were taken care of by LASTMA and the Nigeria Police force respectively. Ambulatory services were made available with a team of medical personnel as well as certified fitness instructors. A gynaecologist, paediatrician and an oncologist were on site and available to answer any question.

Would you say this project is a sort of continuation of what you did while you were  First Lady of Cross River State?

I have continued doing everything I did while I was the First Lady. In fact, when I went to Calabar, I did what I was already doing –  maybe I did more of it. So, there wasn’t anything that was totally new. Having left Calabar, I just continued my work and it has continued to expand even though we have left office.

For me, my life has been just the same; there hasn’t been much difference. The only difference, probably, is that I don’t have any state duties now. Back then, I had to attend different functions at state level. That isn’t there anymore. I am also engaged in training activities. I run a programme for the United Nations on Entrepreneurship.

How have you been able to strike a balance between life in office and out of office? Is there anything you miss?

I have not missed anything. When my husband left office ,my lifestyle did not change. I am not the outgoing type. I remained myself even when he was governor. Life in office was something outstanding. But you should not change your lifestyle to be what you were not before just because of something that is so short. I believe God would give me long life on earth. If people can see life-in-office in that context, then there is absolutely no reason why you won’t prepare for life out of office. It’s just a phase of life and it’s going to be over.

So what does your typical day look like now?

I don’t have a routine, except to pray. Apart from praying, maybe I spend some time to exercise, which is not regular. In essence, I don’t really have a routine.

How would you describe your style?

I just dress to be comfortable because I multi-task. When I leave my house, I dress to fit into work, meetings, church and it has to be comfortable. What is style to me is that I’m comfortable in.

What childhood memories do you cherish?

My father loving me everyday. My dad gave me a lot of confidence. I could wake up in the morning and tell him that I don’t want to go to school that day. If my mother was scolding me, he would say, ‘ok, let her be.’ He was a school principal, an educationist and yet he loved me that much. He would tell my mother, ‘Today, she doesn’t want to go to school. Please let her be.’

How do you take time off to relax?

We do have family holidays. By and large, beyond the holiday, a good portion of my work is relaxation. I have not drawn a line between ‘this is work and this is not.’ I just enjoy everything I do. If I don’t want to do something, I don’t do it. If I decide to do something, I do it and have fun doing it because I feel I will get fulfilment from doing it.

What has life taught you?

It is a continuous school. You cannot say you have graduated, there is still a lot to learn.

What do you consider a life of perfect happiness?

When you are in oneness with your Creator, then you have eternal joy and nothing that is happening around you bothers you; you are at peace. When you understand who you are, you’d understand your God and how much He loves you and that is complete happiness.