Iconic educator, leadership icon, role model, and philanthropist, Dr Christie Toby, wife of former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Alabo Gabriel Toby got her accolades in quantums as the literary community converged in Port Harcourt to celebrates her influence, impact and intrinsic virtues.

Event was the official launch of the book: “CHRISTIE TOBY: TOUCHING LIVES, RAISING LEADERS”, a compelling biography that chronicles the life and influence of Dr. Christie Toby, written by Dotun Adekanmbi, which held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Adekanmbi, a former Editor of Business Times (Nigeria’s oldest business newspaper and a member of the Daily Times Group) and Business Editor of TheNEWS magazine, is a journalist and a certified practitioner of public relations and advertising.

The State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, praised Toby’s legacy in educational development, reiterating the Rivers State government’s commitment to prioritizing education.

“Your life is a remarkable one… You have been an exemplary teacher, educationist, an education investor, role model, and a philanthropist,” he said, adding that Toby’s life story serves as an inspiration for upcoming leaders.

The event had in attendance distinguished personalities such as the husband of the celebrant, Alabo Garbiel Toby, a former Deputy Governor of the State, Tele Ikuru, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, and Chief Executive Officer of Construction and Housing Mayor Limited, My-ACE China, amongst other notable figures in education and leadership.

In her welcome remarks, a former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari expressed deep appreciation to the dignitaries present, particularly acknowledging Governor Fubara and Justice Mary Odili for their dedication to honouring Toby.

“This is a tasking project, but it is good for a deserving mother, the woman who deserves her flowers,” Semenitari remarked.

Justice Mary Odili, who was nominated as the chairman of the book presentation, delivered a poignant speech that highlighted the challenges in Nigeria’s education sector.

Odili, who is the wife of a former Governor of the State, Peter Odili, lamented the phasing out of the Teachers Training College system, which she believes has contributed to the decline in the quality of teachers.

“Untrained teachers now teach our children. Dr. Christie Toby’s early training with grounding in teachers’ colleges is what made her very strong in teaching and education management,” she said, calling for a return to quality teacher training.”

The book review, presented by a former Public Relations Officer of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Williams Wodi provided an in-depth look into the life of Dr Christie Toby, tracing her roots to the esteemed Datubo family.

Wodi praised the book for its intricate narrative that touches on various disciplines, emphasizing Toby’s dedication to education, particularly her work in establishing a school for people living with disabilities (PLWDs).

“The tragedy of Nigeria’s education is that it boasts of teachers that rather need to be taught. The damage done by these illiterate teachers will need 50 years of hard work to repair,” Wodi warned.

A panel discussion on “The Place of Education in Raising the Next Generation of Leaders,” moderated by the Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Emem Okon, further explored the critical role of education in leadership development.

A former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Professor Barineme Fakae, and Prof. Ferdinand Adolphus both stressed the need for quality and functional education, with Prof. Fakae urging educators to approach teaching with passion and a commitment to producing future leaders.

Christie Toby, the subject of the biography, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reflected on her journey in education.

“My goal was simple: To contribute in the field of education in a very difficult system. I didn’t know it would enrich my life and the lives of others,” she shared, reinforcing her belief that “no child is ineducable.”

The launch of Christie Toby: TOUCHING LIVES, RAISING LEADERS’ was not just a celebration of a life well-lived but also a call to action for the revitalization of Nigeria’s education system.