Life Is All About Giving -Onari Duke

Like former United States president, Jimmy Carter, who has dedicated his life since leaving the White House to serving humanity through charity works and high profile peace advocacy under aegis of his non-governmental organization, The Carter Centre, former First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Onari Duke is waving waves impacting society in very positive ways.

Ever elegant, graceful and charming, the svelte Onari has kept herself busy driving the vision of Child Survival and Development Organization of Nigeria, CS-DON, a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 2002 with the primary objective of providing support for maternal and childcare initiatives in the country. One shining success story of the NGO is the Calabar Women and Children Hospital (CWCH), which is accredited by the National Health Insurance Scheme. CS-DON has also actively engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS through its campaign initiatives. Other projects of CS-DON include the support and resettlement of displaced children in refugee circumstances and the advocacy of child care matters.

With the same of passion, she has thrown herself in the battle against breast cancer. For this purpose the NGO is organizing the sixth edition of “Run-for-a-Cure 7Km Charity Walk, which is aimed at creating awareness for breast, cervical and childhood cancer. The event is scheduled to hold on June 15, 2013. In the run-up to the event, she took out time to talk about the initiative.

Excerpts…

How has life been since you left office as the First Lady of Cross River State?

I have not missed a beat. Rather 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 also am engaged in training activities – I run a programme for the United Nations on Entrepreneurship.

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.

What drives your passion for the activities of the NGO?

I have also done voluntary work. I was always a Guide. I worked in the Red Cross. That has always been part of my life, working and giving. For me, that is the essence of giving, if you are not ready to give why are you there? You should be able to bless people. Bible says it’s more blessed to give than to receive.

Please talk more about the new programme being organized by the NGO.

Basically, the Child Survival and Development Organization of Nigeria, CS-DON is organizing the sixth Run for a Cure 7KM Charity Walk event aimed at creating awareness for breast, cervical and childhood cancer. Too many Nigerians are losing their battle with cancer because of late detection of the disease or even the lack of detection. We believe that this can be changed. Many types of cancers are treatable if they are detected in time. Globally great strides have been made in the fight against cancer through research, creating awareness, early detection and aggressive treatment of the disease. Run for a Cure 7km Charity Walk is aimed at creating awareness for breast, cervical and childhood cancer. The Run billed for June 15, 2013 will start early morning from Muri Okunola Park Victoria Island to the Bar Beach along Ahmadu Bello Way and back to Muri Okunola Park.

The participants in the RUN will be drawn from different sectors – including the Corporate, education and the entertainment Industry.  Twelve Trophies will be won at the race for the first second and third positions as well as, oldest and youngest participants. The best teams t-shirt, most exciting team spirit and largest teams will also be awarded.

Traffic control and security will be taken care of by LASTMA and the Nigerian Police force respectively. Ambulatory services have been made available with a team of medical personnel as well as certified fitness instructors. A gynecologist, pediatrician and an oncologist will be on site and available to answer any question.

Some of our sponsors include United Bank for Africa, Dangote group, Honeywell group, Ekulo Group, GlaxoSmithKline amongst others. All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting treatments for patients with breast, cervical or any childhood cancer in the country.

Okay, let’s change direction a little. You are really looking good. Do you go extra mile to look this beautiful?

No, we just thank God. I don’t do anything extra.

What is your take on fashion?

I just dress to be comfortable because I multi-task. I go to children’s school everyday when I’m in Lagos. I have to be ready to go to church everyday. 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 whatever I wear.

What is your philosophy about life?

Hmmm: fear God. He is so great, awesome, he does the impossible, the unexpected, the miraculous and He has shown me in different ways to know how special I am to him. When I look at myself, I ask, why God has been so good to me? Am I able to love Him as I should love Him? I just have a reverent fear of the Lord.

Looking back at your childhood, what memorable experiences bring smiles to your face when your recall them?

My father loving me everyday – he gave us a lot of love.  My dad gave me a lot of confidence in respect of what happened around me, I feel happy and content. My father loved me so much. I could wake up in the morning and tell him that I don’t want to walk 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.’

Is he still alive?

No.

Are you the only child?

No, I’m the fifth child. And each of my siblings thinks that he or she is special, and each of us thinks that he loved us more.

Did you grow up in Calabar?

No, I grew up in Port Harcourt. I’m from Rivers State and married in Cross River.

How was life growing up?

It was good. With a father like mine it had to be good. My father helped me to appreciate the love of God. When you say Jesus died for me, God loved the world so much. I know how much my father loved me. If my father could love me so much, how much more God? Because of my father it was easy for me to appreciate God.

How much support do you get from your husband?

Support comes in different forms. He is always there to support me at any time.

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 for me. I have not drawn a line between that says this is work and this is not. I just enjoy anything 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 fulfillment from doing it.

How have you been able to strike the balance between life in office and out-of-office?

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.

May 20, 2013