*THUMBS UP AT 74: THE GREAT AND BEST TIMES OF SENATOR DAISY UKPOMWAN EHANIRE DANJUMA — A WOMAN OF HIGH REPUTE, A LEGACY OF SERVICE*.
By Festus Alenkhe-
In the story of modern Nigeria, some names stand out not because of noise, but because of impact. *Senator Daisy Ukpomwan Ehanire Danjuma* is one of such names.
A woman of high repute, A stateswoman , A philanthropist, A former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose years in public service and beyond have been defined by one constant talk: a commitment to the development of the people.
Her great and best times are not measured in political titles alone. They are measured in classrooms rebuilt, hostels that house thousands of students, scholarships that changed destinies, and healthcare delivered to the doorsteps of ordinary Nigerians.
*Distinguished Service in the National Assembly*
Senator Danjuma’s tenure in the Senate was a masterclass in purposeful representation. She did not go to Abuja to warm a seat. She went to work.
In the Red Chamber, she was known for her calm strength, her depth, and her advocacy for women, children, education, and national unity. At a time when women in politics had to fight twice as hard to be heard, she spoke with clarity and authority. She sponsored and supported bills and motions that touched directly on human development, and she carried the voice of Edo South and indeed Nigeria with dignity.
She left the Senate with her integrity intact, and with the respect of colleagues across party lines. That, in our politics today, is a legacy on its own.
*Building Institutions, Building People*
But perhaps where Senator Daisy Danjuma’s legacy shines brightest is in what she has built for the next generation.
1. *Education: From UNIBEN to Itohan*
Senator Danjuma singlehandedly built and donated modern hostel facilities to the *University of Benin*. For thousands of UNIBEN students, those hostels are not just buildings. They are safe spaces to learn, to dream, and to graduate. It was a direct intervention to solve a problem that government alone could not immediately fix.
In Benin City, she also rebuilt *Itohan Girls Grammar School* to an international standard. Classrooms, laboratories, and facilities that now compete with the best anywhere. A public school transformed into a center of excellence for the girl-child. That is vision. That is love for community.
2. *Scholarships and Human Capacity*
Through her influence, the *TY Danjuma Foundation* extended its reach deep into Edo State. Hundreds of undergraduates who were at risk of dropping out due to lack of funds were given scholarships to complete their education. For many families, that support was the difference between a degree and a deferred dream.
The foundation’s work did not stop at the campus gate. It went further.
3. *Healthcare at the Doorstep*
The TY Danjuma Foundation, under her guidance and advocacy, brought healthcare to the doorsteps of the people in Edo State. Medical outreaches, interventions, and support programs reached communities that had long been forgotten by the system. For rural dwellers, for mothers, for the elderly, it meant access, dignity, and hope.
*Grace, Strength and Consistency*
What makes Senator Daisy Danjuma remarkable is consistency. Before politics, during politics, and after politics, the mission has remained the same: _How do we make life better for our people?_
She carries herself with grace, but governs her philanthropy with steel. No scandals. No self-promotion. Just quiet, consistent investment in people. In a time when public trust is thin, she reminds us that leadership can still be about service, and that wealth can still be about responsibility.
*Edo’s Daughter, Nigeria’s Pride*
To Edo people, she is our own. To Nigeria, she is an example. Senator Daisy Danjuma has shown that you can attain the highest levels of influence and still remain connected to the grassroots. That you can be powerful and still be kind. That you can be successful and still be selfless.
Her great and best times are still speaking. In the UNIBEN student who sleeps safely in a hostel she built. In the Itohan girl who now learns in a world-class lab. In the undergraduate whose fees were paid. In the village that received free medical care.
This is leadership that outlives office. This is service that outlives applause.
*Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma — a woman of high repute. A builder. An educationist. A health advocate. A great woman whose commitment to the development of the people has written her name in gold. We salute her courage and doggedness. Keep the flag flying our adorable mother of all. SCRIPT BY FESTUS ALENKHE*
