For the 14th time, Arise Women Conference put together by the Convener, Dr Siju Iluyomade once again shook Lagos to its roots. It was yet another grand breaking event where she led some first Ladies to the event as well as important dignatries. It will forever be memorable in the minds of thousands of women who gathered to network, praise God and help their fellow women at this epoch making event.The conference whose theme was tagged “appointed to live” took place on Saturday, 29th at at the New Trinity Towers, Victoria Island. City People Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI who was part of the Arise Media Team brings you what no one will tell you about the grand 2022 Arise Women Conference.
HOW ARISE WOMEN 2022 SHUT DOWN LAGOS
Lagos was put on a lock down penultimate Saturday when Arise Women founder, Dr Siju Iluyomade staged her annual epic event in Lagos, Arise Women Conference. It was an event whose success was in multiple dimensions as its attendance surpassed the previous years. As usual it was an event full of women and over 10, 000 stormed Trinity Towers,Victoria Island, the venue of the grand event.It was so colourful that any where you turn to in Victoria Island, it was all about Arise Event. It also made all roads busy as everyone was trooping towards Oniru axis to witness the conference. ARISE is a Faith-based charity 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.
DR. SIJU ILUYOMADE — THE “APPOINTED” ICON
In her theme for this year event which is “By Appointment” a call to meet needs with better preparedness, Dr Siju Iluyomade is an agent whose personality captures the heart of a giver. Over the years, she is one who replicates a” practice what you preach approach. No wonder, she took the message of “By Appointment” to every woman who appointed to Live. She is the Convener of Arise Women conference and this was the 14th edition since inception. She looked so beautiful for the event and dazzled in her exquisite Chantilly lace mixed with Ankara dress. She is very bold, very confident, has a large heart and gives effortlessly,no wonder many women in their thousands trooped to Arise Women Conference to celebrate with her. She has a listening ears and she has empowered many women in different fields. This is why in her speech, she affirmed, “I Siju, I am appointed to live”. She is a mentor to many and deals 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 smiles on their faces. In her speech, she admonished women to step up and step out. She stressed that women should remove fear from their psyche and make fear ineffective in order to pursue their goals.
WHY EVERY WOMAN IS APPOINTED TO LIVE
The theme for the Arise Women Conference was By Appointment and many women who lit up the whole hall dazzled both inwardly and outwardly. They all made style statements at the event. The theme of the event #appointedtolive is not just a hashtag but a clarion call out to all women to step out. Women need to shine brighter and shine collectively in different spheres of human endeavours. There is need to increase and multiply in every area and your work must speak for you on merit not on quota. The woman who is appointed to live does not sit down,she steps out and takes charge that is what the theme of this year signifies..
AND DR SIJU DRAGGED MANY FIRST LADIES TO THE EVENT
This is not the first time large numbers of First ladies will be gracing the Arise Women Conference but this year was more grand owning to the fact that the previous year was a bit on the low key due to the post COVID era.. The conference witnessed about 4 First Ladies who all have one common goal in their pet projects, women empowerment. They were First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, former plateau First Lady and Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Her Excellency, Mrs Pauline Tallen. Her Excellency, Dr Mairo Al-makura, Former 1st Lady, Nasarawa State represented Nigerias First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Former First Ladies of Lagos, Senator Oluremi Tinubu represented by Pastor Dayo Ben Laniyi, former Cross River First Lady, Onari Duke, Deputy Governor of Lagos, H.E Oluremi Hamzat, former Lagos Deputy Governor, Sarah Sosan, They all looked beautiful in their torquoise and pink colour VVIP Ankara which was also worn by the Convener, Siju Iluyomade. Other First Ladies who were to be at the programme were Ekiti ex-First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Ogun First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun, Edo First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, First Lady Kebbi state, Zainab Bagudu, SA to President Buhari, Adejoke Adefulire, Akwa Ibom First Lady,Martha Udom Emmanuel and co. Alongside the First ladies were also top ministers, head of government parastatal, technocrats like SA to President Buhari, Hon. Abike Dabiri, who graced the event.The first female vice chancellor elect of University of Lagos, Prof Folashade Ogunsola was also there and she gave a powerful and motivating Speech..
AND DEPUTY GOVERNORS TOO
The event also saw the coming together of many Deputy Governors both former and serving. Lagos Deputy governor, H.E Dr Obafemi Hamzat who represented his wife, H.E Oluremi Hamzat, H.E. Princess Sarah Sosan, former deputy Governor of Lagos State and H.E. Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and Co.
LAGOS DEP.GOV, OBAFEMI HAMZAT THROWS WEIGHT BEHIND ARISE
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat was one of the important dignatries at the conference, he was also there to represent his wife, Oluremi Hamzat who is an Arise Woman. He was presented the annual brochure of the conference which has his wife on the cover page. In his speech he urged Nigerians to serve God wholeheartedly and uphold the family unit for the country to grow. He said, the family is important in nation-building because it is the first agent of socialisation and training.” It is important that we uphold the family. I think the biggest challenge in our society today is that the family system has broken down. If we hold onto the family unit, our country will grow”. He stayed for few hours before taking his leave.
OVER 4 VENUES WERE USED
Due to the large crowd of women who besieged Trinity Towers, the venue for the conference, other adjoining venues which belong to the church like the, RCCG City of David parish, Havillah, incubator and others. They were all filled to the brim. Before the event started, free medical services were also given out to participants.
HOST STATE, FIRST LADY IBIJOKE SANWOOLU HONOURED DR SIJU
One of the high points of the event was when the First Lady of Lagos, Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu stormed the venue. She was received by Dr Siju Iluyomade and sat right beside each other. These 2 women who are passionate about their causes have been together for a while. She has also graced the front cover edition of one of the Arise Brochures in the past editions.
MEET THE POWERFUL GUEST SPEAKERS
At this event were woman who not only came to support the Convener but was there to share their experiences and enlighten women more. At this event were Dr Annette Akinsete who spoke on all women need to know about Sickle Cell Disorder and Dr Alero Roberts who spoke on intellectual disability using her son, a 5 time Olympic gold medal winner,who was diagnosed of Down syndrome as a case study. These moments were very insightful for many women at the event.
PASTOR BIMBO EKWEME AND PASTOR OLUMUYIWA PRESIDED
At the event were 2 popular female Pastors in Abuja who presided over the event. Pastor Bimbo Ekweme and Pastor Olumuyiwa charged the audience with their short but precise words of wisdom, urging women to rise up to the call they were created for.
ARISE WOMEN COMMITTEE ON POINT
Give it to all these women, they made the event a hitch free one. It was well coordinated and activities lined up was fully observed. They gave their all as weeks rolled into months of preparation and Arise 2022 came out bigger and better. Amongst the committee members were Ayinke Almona, Iyabo Ladipo, Yinka Adesanya, Teresa Ayanru, Omowunmi Adewole, Helen Adesanya, Feyi Osinupebi, Tope Akinbola,Ronke Olusile and Lolade Wakama, Arinola Izevbigie and Festus Peter Aseni.
A GLANCE ON THE ARISE PROJECTS ALL OVER NIGERIA
ARISE has established Mobile Clinics that have delivered free primary health care to the doorsteps of many communities like Ebute-Metta, Makoko, Lagos Island, Surulere LGA, Iwaya, Apapa, Yaba, Itedo village Lekki, Queens College Lagos, Amuwo Odofin/Festac area, and for Masha/Kilo Community and all over the Nigeria. Arise also operates a bimonthly Arise Women’s Clinic at the Healing Stripes Hospital Victoria Island as an outpatient clinic for women and this is done at many other states as well.Arise adopt a village project where boreholes are constructed, classrooms renovated and furnished, while free medical care was given to thousands of residents, Distribution of Arise Pink palliative bucket, Ultra modern women and children hospitals, building of a fully computerized literacy resource centre, Arise farmers foundation and Arise Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Academy.
OVER 6 GOSPEL ARTISTES THRILLED GUESTS
The conference had many gospel artistes who not only made everyone 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 BJSAX leading the praise and worship to Efe Nathan, to David Fadipe and Chisom. It was all moment of joy.
LAGOS CELEB WOMEN IN LARGE NUMBERS
Not only were the First Ladies and the guest speakers present,there were also many other dignatries present like Mrs Moji Dokpesi, Mrs Fashola, Quincy Ayodele and many others.
MEET THE 14 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 have supported it with great passion in the last 10 years since it was founded.Pastor Siju Iluyomade chaired the first conference themed wisdom for today’s women. Others with their yearly theme are 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 in 2018, Mrs Ronke Olushile for Bloom in 2019, Mrs Lolade Wakama for Deeply Rooted in 2020 and Revive in 2021 then Mrs Iyabo Ladipo for By Appointment in 2022.
IT WAS AN ANKARA PARADE
The event was such a colorful one that almost 10 different ankara were picked. All the beautiful women stunned in their various ankara which was sewn into beautiful styles. That the show was also more of a fashion statement event is simply stating the obvious because it later became an urban fashion runway where celebrities strutted with so much ease and finesse as they made their way into the hall. The event paparazzis had a fun filled time photographing their subjects.This Ankara were given out free to all participants by the Convener.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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