By Dr. Karinabo Naths-Igbanibo
It was the American author of “The Light in the Heart,” Roy T. Bennett, who said that success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.
Again, it is often said that the measurement of one’s true value is not obtained when measured using the wrong measuring system.
True value is measured by actions and how the individual brought smiles to the faces of people everywhere they were present and this rightly describes the pedigree and personae of Hon. Helen Inafa-Bob
Indeed Helen is a proverbial woman who has spent the best part of her days improving the well-being of women, girls, other youths and society in general.
Born over 50 years ago, precisely 18th June 1973, Counsellor Helen Inafa-Bob is from the ancient Okpoama Kingdom in Brass LGA, as well as Nembe City and Opu Nembe of Nembe LGA in Bayelsa State.
A woman of many colours, Helen Inafa-Bob is a teacher, economist, counsellor, politician, humanitarian, chef, socialite, entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
The spontaneous young Helen attended the St. John Primary School Ewoama Brass and obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in I984 and later wrote her Senior School Certificate Examination in 1991 at the Government Secondary School, Twon Brass.
A graduate of Education from the Ignatius Ajuru University in 1998, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, she holds a Bachelor of Education in Economics.
After embarking on the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps in 2000, this exceptional woman obtained a Master of Education in Educational Evaluation in 2016 from the University of Ibadan and later a Master of Education in Guidance and Counselling in 2021 from the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State.
Presently pursuing her Ph.D. in guidance and counselling at the same Niger Delta University, her quest for higher learning knows no limit.
Helen Bob’s foray into politics came with a landmark appointment as the youngest State Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State in 2005 and this was at the age of 32.
She is the youngest first female Caretaker Chairman of Brass Local Government Council at 36 years in 2009, and a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Talent Development in 2012.
Helen Inafa-Bob served as the Deputy Director of Women Mobilization of Chief Henry Seriake Dickson’s second-term Governorship campaign organization in 2015 and went on to serve as Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Talent Development & Gender Promotion in 2016.
This Grassroots mobilizer served as a Member of the Contact, Mobilization and Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressives Congress in 2019, a Member of the Inauguration Committee of the Governor-Elect of the All Progressives Congress in 2020 and a member of the Entertainment/Welfare Sub-Committee of the APC National Convention Committee 2022 as well as a Member of Bayelsa State APC Elders Advisory Council in 2022.
In 2023, she equally served as a Member of the APC Reconciliation Committee.
This phenomenal woman, for the past 22 years, has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Successful Motherhood Initiative (SUMOIN).
An advocate of the Girl Child, she has organised several activities for the girl child and balanced gender development advocacy, including appearing on a weekly radio programme on emotional adjustment.
During her appointment as SSA to the Governor on Talent Development, several activities were organised to encourage young entertainers such as Talent Quest 2012, Bayelsa Talent Got It Right 2013, Inter-Secondary School Xmas Fiesta and Necessity TV series for gender, relationships.
Others are Sex Education and Weekly promo for young Talents on TV (Talent Hour) and the established Talent Development Centre for the hearing impaired talents in Bayelsa State.
This silent achiever is a recipient of many prestigious awards which include, The Sylva Entertainers Annual Award, Special Woman for Good Governance 2023, Go-Getter in Okpoama Kingdom 2021, Bayelsa Youth Leadership Honorary Award, Advocacy for Talent Development 2018 and BAMA Award of Excellence (Bayelsa Woman of the Year 2017).
Others are the VIP Nigeria Honours Award in Promoting Girl Child Education in 2016, PDP National Youth REAP South South Zone Award of Excellence (Most Resourceful Political Appointee in Bayelsa State 2014), Bayelsa State Hall of Fame Awards as Most Outstanding Senior Special Assistant to the Governor 2013, Bayelsa Media Award.
She has also been the Most Outstanding Senior Special Assistant of 2013 and NAIFS ALUMNI BAYELSA STATE CHAPTER’s Achiever’s Award for Unconditional Service to Humanity and Ijaw Nation 2013.
This exceptional Woman further bagged the BSO/BSVG Excellence Award For Best Female Philanthropic Personality in Bayelsa State 2011/2012, Grassroot Award by the NAFDAC Grassroot Ambassador in 2009, Caretaker Chairman of Brass Local Government Council and Nigeria Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) Honorary Fellowship Award 2009.
Married to Mr Crawford Jim-Bob, the union is blessed with four Children. She is a devoted Christian, a socialite, a giver, a trailblazer and the convener of the Niger Delta Women for Sustainable Development
We salute Honourable Helen Inafa-Bob, You are indeed not just a blessing to motherhood but a quintessential and phenomenal woman.
May God keep you in perfect health and peace.
Dr. Karinabo Naths-Igbanibo is Secretary General of the Niger Delta Rural Women for Sustainable Development and she writes from Yenagoa.