Nigerian women have been called upon to imbibe good
Christian virtues and devote their lives to the service of humanity.
This call was made by some women of virtue in both the
religious and political space at the 2017 Arise Women’s Conference Nigeria,
held in Lagos, which was well attended by thousands of women from all walks of
life, and had the theme: ‘Branded for Christ.’
Special guest present at the event were the Wife of the Vice
President, Dolapo Osinbajo; Wife of Edo State Governor, Betsy Obaseki; Wife of
Imo State Governor, Nneoma Rochas Okorocha and Special Assistant to the
President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke
Orelope-Adefulire, Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Sarah Sosan;
Head of Service, Lagos State, Mrs. Ademola Olabowale to mention few. Whilst,
the Guest minister was Pastor Mrs. Sarah Omakwu of Family Ministry
International (Africa).
Speaking at the conference, Founder, Arise Women’s
Conference Nigeria, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, said as people branded for
Christ, women should always possess and show such attributes as love, joy,
patience, tolerance and compassion to everyone.
“My message to everyone is that we need to touch humanity.
The world is what we are meant to touch and if we imbibe these virtues that
I’ve spoken about – being compassionate, being less-selfish, wanting to reach
out to one another so that nobody will lack anything,” she said.
L-R: Siju Iluyomade, Convener of Arise Women presenting an
award Mrs Jean Obi of Queens College Lagos at the Arise Women's 2017
Conference with the theme, Branded for Christ, held in Lagos.
|
The convener who is wife of the Pastor in charge of Region
20 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God disclosed that since inception, the
organisation had empowered more than 20, 000 women in its skill acquisition
programme. She said they adopted Dafara, a community in Abuja where they built
schools and sunk borehole.
She added that in the coming year, the organisation would
build a library for them so that girls in the community can get educated and
free themselves from the shackles of poverty.
Iluyomade stated that healthcare had been a cardinal
programme of Arise since its birth, and that they had rendered free medical
care to many areas in Lagos.
In her homily, special guest/ preacher, Wife of the Vice
President, Pastor Dolapo Osinbajo, who spoke on the topic: ‘Yes Lord’, advised
women to always submit to the command of Jesus, saying that was the true mark
of being branded for Christ.
She stated that being branded for Christ takes a painful
process but comes with pleasant reward in the end, adding that it was by the
seal of the Holy Spirit that Christian women were branded.
According to Osinbajo, “Ruth, Philip, Daniel and Deborah
were special brands because they said yes Lord. They obeyed God rather than
man,” she noted.
Awards were presented to deserving persons at the occasion.
Imo State First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha who was the Face of Arise 2017
received Arise Ambassador’s award.
She described the theme of the conference as a unique one.
“For me this is a submission of all that we’re doing in the Christendom. For
you to be branded a lot must take place. For you to be branded that brand needs
to make a statement.”
First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki also honoured
with Arise Ambassador’s award described the theme as apt and advised women to
be branded not only on the outside but on the inside. “We should have as
Christians, truth in our inward heart, and be true children of God in our words,
in our actions, in our thoughts, in our imaginations even in our dreams.”
Queens College Old Students/Rebecca Group and the Principal
were presented with Arise Ambassador’s award for supporting the training of
visually impaired students in the school.
Also, Mrs Jim Obi, mother of one of the old students was
equally presented with Arise Ambassador’s award for partnering with the Queens
College Rebecca Group in 1970 in carrying out an experiment that helped blind
students in the school receive proper education.
There were free medical services at the event such as
cervical cancer screening, skin care consultation, free eye test and glasses,
free services on blood sugar level, as well as blood pressure checks.
ARISE is a Faith-based Non-Governmental Organization which
is committed to accelerating nation building through the empowerment of women
in the society. ARISE has also been passionate about the health of women and
free preventive medical care is being offered to women in HIV tests, Eye tests,
Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar level tests.
The conferences since 2009 till date have been testified by
participants to be positively life-changing and improving the quality of life
of the everyday woman.
0 Comments