Clara Oshiomhole was born on 18th June 1956 to the Akharagbon Family of Idumu-Agho, Okaigben, Ewohimi in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo  state. She was educated at the Okaigben Primary School, Commercial Secondary  School, Kaduna, and Teachers Training College Kaduna. She proceeded to the  Ahmadu Bello University, where she obtained an Advanced Teachers Certificate,  and later bagged a Certificate in Public Administration from the Administrative  Staff College, Badagry, Lagos. In later years, she secured admission into the  National Open University, but could not complete the programme due to her busy  routine as the First Lady of Edo State. Clara started her working career in the Arewa Textiles, Kaduna, where she worked  as a secretary. Thereafter, she took up an appointment with the National  Institute of Public Information, Kaduna.

At Arewa Textiles, she met the young Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, a frail but restless worker, who had also taken additional burden as a union leader. Back  then, Adams as the union workers’ secretary, needed the help of a trusted  secretary to type his union petitions. With the pervasive presence of the Police  Special Branch, such vitriolic petitions had to be produced in strict secrecy by  a trusted secretary. Clara became a willing accomplice and helped to turn out  uncountable union petitions against her management and other sundry oppressors, as picked upon by the young union leader. The subversive assignments, which Clara had chosen to undertake for the union at the instance of Adams, was at the  risk of losing her own job and at the expense of her safety.

These early encounters yielded to a budding romance, as Adams could not resist  the sparkle, humility, and mildness of manners of young Clara. Soon, she joined Adams in holy matrimony in the Catholic Church in Kaduna in March 1975. Their  union marriage produced five brilliant and well-behaved children - Cyril and  Winnie, both medical doctors, Jane, an accountant, and Steve and Adams, Jnr,  both university students.

By dint of loving devotion to husband and children, great patience, remarkable  forbearance and intense spirituality, Clara built a peaceful and roundly  successful home. Her strength of character, single-minded commitment to the  moral welfare of her children and her overall effectiveness as a home-maker  mitigated the impact of her husband’s trade union career on the family. Thus,  while the husband often suffered incarceration and retreated under-ground in the  course of trade union and political agitation, the family enjoyed stability. 

Her greatest strength was her deep Christian ethics and an abiding faith in the  power of prayers. She took her Christian commitments with utmost seriousness, becoming in the process the quintessential Catholic woman – devoted to her Christ, faithful to her Church and dutiful to her family. As Clara was fond of saying, with a husband, who stepped on the toes of the movers and shakers of society, she needed unceasing spiritual intercession to keep him out of danger.

Although Clara did not join in executing strikes, partake in union strategy sessions, or mount the barricade as her husband, she was nevertheless generally acclaimed as an authentic Comrade. She shared her husband’s passion for justice and believed in his struggles. She defined her role consciously as a home-maker and supporter, which enhanced her husband’s total devotion to the trade union movement, especially as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This is why some of the most passionate tributes have come from the trade union movement, which appreciates the services of Sisi Clara or Comrade Clara, as she is affectionately called.Her support and devotion were again demonstrated in the course of her husband’s quest to seek election as Governor of Edo State. Clara often joined the campaign train and helped in mobilizing women. In the struggle to claim the people’s mandate, she was by her husband’s side all through, keeping the home front stable and fortified.At the swearing-in of her husband as Governor on November 11, 2008, she appeared beside him, both of them in their khaki shirts. It was obvious that Edo State  was in safe hands. As the First Lady, she again complemented her husband  admirably.

In her own right, she contributed to the evolution of a New Beginning by authoritatively stamping her values of modesty, humility, and charity on the institution of the First Lady.

In particular, as First Lady, she helped to reconcile the secular character of governance with the spiritual imperative of putting God first.Her pet concern was maternal and child health. She set up the Health Foundation for Maternal and Child Care (HEFMAC) to give effect to her commitment to  confront maternal and infant mortality through enhanced access to preventive and curative healthcare.

The People’s Lady was involved in charity work across the State. On many occasions, she had helped to pay the medical bills of indigent persons while she floated a scholarship scheme for indigent girls.Clara endured her health challenges with stoic dignity, courage, and unrelenting faith in the will of God. Her last moments were devoted to praise and worship. She signed off with the song “Satan don fall for ground o, march am march am”. As a believer, she crushed Satan to the end. 

She is survived not only by her immediate family, but also by millions of people from all walks of life, whom she had touched by the sheer force of her humility, charity and example as a loyal wife and mother.

Adieu Clara!