- How Pastor SIJU ILUYOMADE Hosted Them
Saturday, 27th October will forever be memorable in the minds of thousands of women who besiege the venue of the 2018 Annual Arise Women Conference at 10 put together by the Convener, Pastor Mrs Siju Iluyomade. The 10th anniversary took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Victoria Island as over 4 First Ladies and Deputy Governors stormed the event with several other important dignitaries from all walks of life. It was an event which brought many women together to arise for each other and arise for Christ. City People Society Editor, TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI who was part of the Arise Media Team brings you what no one will tell you about the iconic 2018 Arise Women Conference. Enjoy!
WHY EVERY WOMAN MUST “ARISE NOW”
The popular theme for the conference was Arise Now and it was also the most trending hashtag for that weekend. It was a gathering which had over 2000 women under one umbrella to praise God and celebrate one another. The theme Arise Now is not just a hashtag but a commanding word to Arise Now for those who are desperately in need of someone to just stretch forth a helping now, it is also a mandatory command for every woman to charge themselves with one voice, one vision, one purpose to Arise Now on behalf of another woman.
WHY PASTOR SIJU ILUYOMADE IS LOVED
Pastor Siju Iluyomade is the Convener of Arise Women Conference And this is the 10th edition since inception. She is one of the bravest women on planet earth. She is very bold, very confident and she and she has a large heart and gives effortlessly. No wonder many women in their thousands trooped to Arise Women Conference to celebrate this laudable feat. She has a listening ear and she has empowered many women in their different fields. No wonder in her speech, she affirmed: I Siju Iluyomade will cast off every gloom and limiting force and confidently arise now by the strength of heaven to empower many women and serve humanity in general as the almighty God enables me”. She is a mentor to many who deal with all in a Christ-like nature, very loving and very generous, she distributed many gifts to thousands of guests and made sure she put a smile on their faces
WHAT ARISE WOMEN CONFERENCE IS ALL ABOUT
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 over the years provided a forum where thousands of women have been impacted, inspired and encouraged to achieve their God-given potentials, by the words and teachings of carefully chosen and proven speakers. ARISE has been passionate about the health of the women in the state and free preventive medical care have been offered to thousands of women.
OVER 6 FIRST LADIES CAME
It is not very common to have several First Ladies at one event when it is not their private forum but at the 2018 10th Arise Women Conference over 5 First Ladies storm the event to support and Arise with Pastor Mrs Siju Iluyomade. At the event sitting on the first row was the First Lady of Lagos State, which is the host state, H.E Bolanle Ambode ably represented by Mrs Oyinda Ogunsanya, former Lagos First Lady, Dame Emmanuella Fashola, wife of Federal Minister of Power/Works & Housing, H.E. Mrs. Nneoma N. Rochas- Okorocha, wife of Imo State Governor, H.E. Mrs Omolewa Omolara Ahmed, wife of Kwara State Governor, H.E. Mrs. Funsho Amosun, wife of Ogun State Governor, H.E, Angela Adebayo, wife of the former Governor of Ekiti State, H.E Onari Duke, the wife of the former governor of Cross River State, Oyo First Lady, H.E Florence Ajimobi was represented by pastor Rose Oyedele, the special assistant to Gov Ajimobi on due process, former Ekiti First Lady, Feyisetan Fayose was also ably represented Mrs Omolewa Ahmed gave the opening prayer while Mrs Okorocha also took charge afterwards.
AND DEPUTY GOVERNORS TOO
The event also saw the coming together of many deputy governors like H.E. Princess Sarah Sosan, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, H.E. Mrs Pauline Tallen, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State! H.E. Princess Orelope Adefulire, former Lagos Deputy Governor and Special Adviser to President on SDG.
ARISE EMPOWERMENTS SO FAR
ARISE has established Mobile Clinics which has delivered free primary health care to the doorsteps of communities in Ebute-Metta, Makoko, Lagos Island, Surulere LGA, Iwaya, Apapa, Yaba, Itedo village Lekki, Queens College Lagos and recently at Amuwo Odofin/Festac area, and recently for Masha/Kilo Community held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Arise also operates a bimonthly Arise Women’s Clinic at the Healing Stripes Hospital Victoria Island as an outpatient clinic for women. Arise adopted Dafara Primary School in Dafara Village in Kuje Abuja, where boreholes were constructed, classrooms renovated and furnished, while free medical care was given to thousands of residents.
MEET PASTOR ADEBOYE’S PA WHO WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER
One woman who many respected at the event was Pastor Mrs Oretayo Adetola. She was the guest speaker and was also the one who launched Pastor Siju Iluyomade’s book. She is a powerful woman who runs one of the big provinces of Redeemed Church. She is the Special Assistant to the General Overseer, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Women Affairs. She is a member of Redeemers University Governing Council. She coordinates the general management of the university. She is currently the Provincial Pastor of Lagos Province 7 of the RCCG. Currently in ministry: as the Pastor-in-Charge, Lagos Province 6/Region XI. She is also the Chairperson of Christ the Redeemer’s Nursery and Primary School, Redemption Camp (CRNPS), and the editor of Courage Magazine, the Woman’s Magazine of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. She charged every woman to Arise for each other come what any circumstances and put their all at the God’s feet. To show her love for women which she preaches, she had gotten to the venue by 9 am and spent several hours.
BETWEEN LAGOS EX- FIRST LADY AND HER HUSBAND’S DEPUTIES
One woman who was shown great love and acceptance from the audience cheering her up was the former First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola. She got a very loud ovation when she was to be recognized by the Pastor Mrs Siju Iluyomade. She is a very calm woman with no airs around her. She has been stepping out regularly in recent times and if you notice, there are always 2 people who sit close to her at events. They are her husband Babatunde Fashola’s deputies for his first and second term while in office, the duo of Mrs Sarah Sosan and Princess Adejoke Adefulire. They always sit with her whenever they are at events together and this event was no different as they sat beside each other, gisted, sang, danced and enjoyed all the way.
MEET THE 10 CHAIRPERSONS OF ARISE SINCE INCEPTION
Arise has been chaired by many powerful women who have not only taken the vision of the conference to another level but has supported it with great passion in the last 10 years since it was founded. Pastor Siju Iluyomade chaired the first conference titled Wisdom for today’s women, Pastor Joy Ikiebe in 2010 for the Kings Daughter, Pastor Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo in 2011 for Divine Harmony, pastor Yinka Adesanya in 2012 with Women on the cutting edge, Pastor Tope Akinbola in 2013 for Tiny Seeds, Big Impacts, Pastor Mrs Teresa Anyanwu in 2014 for Seasons and Reasons, Mrs Iyabo Ladipo in 2015 for The Set Time, Mrs Feyi Oshinupebi in 2016 with Grace to Grace, Mrs Yinka Almond in 2017 for Branded for Christ and Mrs Helen Adesanya for Arise Now.
GUEST SPEAKERS CAME FROM The US
Arise 2018 did not only parade ministers of God from only Nigeria but from far away US and Ghana. There were some of the Arise women delegates who stormed Lagos. The guest speaker of the event was also from the US. The guest speaker for Arise women conference at 10 was Pastor Pamela Sturdivant. She is the co-pastor of Faith Untied Ministries while Michelle McKinney Hammond is a visionary and leader of heart wings ministry in US and relevance ministries, Ghana, West Africa, she delivered the powerful sermon for the conference..
MANY FEMALE JUSTICES IN THE HOUSE
Sighting some high profile justices at the event will not be news to people in the legal field because the convener of the event, pastor Mrs Siju Iluyomade is a lawyer she has been practising for over 30 years. She has many friends in the legal field and she is mostly loved by her senior colleagues who always inspire her. Sighted at the event were Justices Toyin Ipaye, Kofo Okikiolu, Yetunde Adesanya, Sarah Ogunsanya, Bisi Akinlade and others.
IT WAS A VVIP EVENT
The Arise at 10 anniversary was a big event which was carefully planned. Many of all the invited guests were prominent personalities who graced the conference. Sighted were Mrs Yanju Aremu, Assistant Controller General Of Customs; Mrs Ojuolape Kukoyi, Director General of Lands in Ogun State, Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri, Mrs Moji Omisore, former Nig Amb. to Greece, Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele, DCP Ependu Linda, the wife of the Controller General of Prisons, Bishop Mrs Tina Bawa, LCCI president, Chief Mrs. Nike Akande,Globacom boss wife,Titi Adenuga, Mrs Teju Phillips,wife of Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Caroline Adeneye, Ruth Benamasia Opia, Emzor boss, Stella Okoli, Chief Mrs Ronke Atere, taste fried chicken boss, Pamela Adedayo, Mrs. Ranti Aborowa, Mrs Dupe Sagoe, Mitchell’s Mariel Clark and others.
KSA THRILLED GUESTS
King Sunny Ade usually does not perform in church. But to the admiration of all he did. Many wondered if he was coming to sing Juju music in church but he captivated the audience with his gospel composition and many could not but help but dance and dance and several minutes.
WHEN ADEWALE AYUBA DECLARED FOR JESUS
It came as a surprise to many when they saw that Adewale Ayuba was billed to perform because many believed him to be a Muslim and a Fuji artist. But let’s quickly tell you that he has dumped Islam for Christianity and it was also at a Redeemed Church he made his declaration. He serenaded guests with his dance steps and melodious gospel music
BJSAX, BUKOLA BEKES, NATANIEL BASSEY, CHIOMA JESUS AND FRANK EDWARDS THRILL
The conference had many gospel artistes who not only made us dance but had a splendid time in the presence of God. It was an atmosphere where praises were in high heavens and worship session was unlimited. From BJ SAX leading the praise and worship to Bukola BEKES in another praise session to Frank Edwards, Chioma Jesus and Nataniel Bassey. It was all moment of joy.
TOPE ALABI’S DOUBLE CELEBRATION
One guest artiste whose ministration shook the entire audience was Tope Alabi. She knows how to bring any congregation under the anointing of Praise and Worship. She delivered a powerful ministration and even the First Ladies could not help but dance from beginning till end, the day also coincided with her birthday so she used the medium to also celebrate herself as a woman joining forces to arise for another.
NIGERIA WOMEN JOURNALIST HONOURED SIJU ILUYOMADE
The Association Of Women Journalists honoured Pastor Mrs Siju Iluyomade with an award for all her contributions to Women, especially in health, education and women empowerment. The team was led by their Chairperson, Hajia Sekinah Temitope Lawal, others are Mrs Mary Fatile, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, Mrs Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and Mrs Temitope Ojo.
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