ON THE NIGER WOMEN COMMENCE ANNUAL SUMMIT, INSIST ON POSITIVE ACTION FOR NATION’S WELLBEING

(By Alex Uzoigwe)

The annual Women Conference of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, started today Thursday, July 6, 2023, with a shrill call for a firm stand on positive actions for economic, social and political wellbeing of Nigerians.
The four-day summit which is solely packaged by the Diocesan Women Ministry is currently holding at the St Michael’s Anglican Church, Umudioka. It is being jointly hosted with Umunnachi Anglican communities.

In a solemn church service marking the formal opening of the the conference, the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, had in a 30-minute homily which he said during the service, underscored what he called positive actions for the spiritual and material wellbeing of the individual.
According to him, what is expected of Nigerians now, irrespective of faith, tribe or political leanings is operational positive actions rather than anyone sitting on the fence for the actualisation of effective and equitable care of every Nigerian.
Expounding the homily in the context of the theme of the conference, “Feed My Lambs”, the bishop challenged Nigerians, especially christians, to endeavour to make something good out of the mandate.

“We should take extra steps to deepen the penetration of the Gospel”, he said, adding that the responsibility of soul-winning was solely entrusted in the hands of believers.
While reminding christians that both the Christ injunction, “I will make you fishers of men” and the task of ,”feeding of the lambs” were the main objects of the Great Commission, Bishop Nwokolo expressed some doubts of “How our secular and religious leaders are feeding the lambs of God”
He was worried of what he described as the disturbing presence of various forms of social ills, incuding criminalities and high level of cultism in the contemporary Nigeria, saying that such trends should not have been if the lambs were properly fed.
“Otherwise why do today’s youth resort to and patronise cultism, killings, kidnaps, and engage in all forms evils?”, the bishop queried, challenging christians not to allow such ills to continue to be confronting them in the faces.
Bishop Nwokolo commended the Women Ministry for hosting the conference and wished them fruitful deliberations.
The service featured administration of the Holy Communion and epic native anthem by the host choir all preceding hours of the plenary sessions of the conference proper.
More than 20,000 delegates and non delegates of the diocesan women attended the day-one of the summit.