Fact Check: Mama Kalu is a respected matriarch, not the subject of mystical myths.

By Rubby Obinna

The viral WhatsApp message circulating about President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Elder Chief Mrs.

Eunice Uzor Kalu has sparked widespread speculation, with some attaching spiritual claims to what was essentially a public visit to honour a respected elder.
However, available facts present a different narrative.
Elder Chief Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu is the matriarch of the Uzor Kalu family and the mother of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District. On July 4, 2026, she celebrated her 79th birthday at a well-attended event in Abuja. The gathering attracted prominent personalities, including President Tinubu, senators, ministers and other dignitaries who came to celebrate her life and contributions.
One of the claims making the rounds is that Mama Kalu is younger than her son. Public records, however, contradict this. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was born on April 21, 1960, to Mazi Johnson Uzor Kalu and Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu. Having turned 79 in July 2026, Mama Kalu was born around 1947, confirming that she is indeed his mother.
Another widely circulated claim suggests that she is “half spirit, half human.” There is no evidence from the Kalu family, Mama Kalu herself, or any credible source to support such an assertion. What is publicly known is that she bears the traditional title “Odi Uko Na Mba” and is widely described as a woman dedicated to humanity and community service.
She serves as President of Reality Organisation Worldwide, a philanthropic platform through which she has impacted many lives. In Abia State, she is also known as “Mother Excellency,” having built a reputation as a grassroots political mobiliser long before her son became governor.
Many political observers have credited her influence and support as instrumental in the political success of Orji Uzor Kalu and several other politicians. Her legacy is commonly associated with resilience, philanthropy, industry and service to God and humanity rather than any mystical attributes.
The claim that every Nigerian president bows before her for spiritual reasons is equally unsupported. Respect for elders remains a deeply rooted value in Igbo culture and across Nigeria. President Tinubu’s attendance at her birthday celebration reflected that tradition, as did the presence of several senators, ministers and political leaders from different parties who gathered to honour her.
Among those reportedly present were Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Ned Nwoko and former Senator Dino Melaye, underscoring the broad respect she commands across political divides.
Similarly, the suggestion that political leaders visit her only when facing difficult times overlooks her longstanding role in Abia politics. Mama Kalu has remained an influential figure for decades, actively supporting political causes and maintaining relationships with leaders across the country.
In 2022, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu publicly commended his mother for her philanthropic efforts and described her as a rallying point for women beyond her immediate community. Her influence has consistently been linked to community development and grassroots mobilisation.
From a faith perspective, the Kalu family has consistently portrayed her life through Christian values. Family members have compared her to biblical figures such as Ruth and Hannah because of her compassion and dedication to humanity. In one of his birthday tributes, Orji Uzor Kalu thanked God for blessing him with a dependable and supportive mother.
The facts therefore remain clear. Elder Chief Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu is a 79-year-old philanthropist, President of Reality Organisation Worldwide, grassroots political mobiliser and mother of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. She enjoys widespread respect across political lines, which explains the attendance of President Tinubu, ministers and other dignitaries at her birthday celebration.
There is no credible evidence that she is “half spirit,” younger than her son, or that presidents visit her for mystical reasons. Rather, the event reflected Nigeria’s enduring culture of honouring elders and recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities.
The visit ultimately symbolised respect for age, motherhood and service, while reinforcing the values of truth, honour and cultural reverence for elders.