Former First Lady Maryam Abacha and ex-governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, were among the dignitaries present at the 65th birthday celebration of the former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, on Monday.
The festivities commenced with a Holy Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Garki, presided over by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama. The day concluded with a dinner at Tallen’s residence.
Other notable guests included former Governor James Ngilari of Adamawa, Minister of Youth and Sports Jamila Ibrahim, and Senator Aisha Binani. The gathering also saw the attendance of two former Ministers of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina and Inna Ciroma, former Minister of Power Prince Jeddy Agba, former Kaduna State Governor’s wife Amina Yakowa, and former Supreme Court Justice Amina Augie.
The distinguished list continued with former EFCC boss Farida Waziri, Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory for Health and Human Services Adedolapo Fasawe, Solicitor General of Nigeria Beatrice Jeddi-Agba, APC National Women Leader Blessing Agbomhere, the first female and current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar Prof Florence Obi, and former Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire Martin Adamu.
During the celebration, many guests took turns expressing their admiration for the celebrant. Mrs. Abacha fondly recalled their first meeting in the Presidential Villa during her husband’s presidency, describing Tallen as someone with an “exciting and irresistible aura,” a connection that has endured over the years.