By Morenike Taire

Convener, Arise Women, Dr Siju Iluyomade has urged women to raise their standards while deploying every God-given gift, saying these are the keys to success and survival. 

Welcoming more than 10,000 participants in the 15th edition of the  Arise Women Conference to the magnificent Trinity Towers of the City of David parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Iluyomade further emphasised the importance of women in building the society, telling them women are the greatest untapped resource.

Speaking under the theme of this year’s edition, #StepUp, all speakers similarly urged women to continually seek knowledge, and not be afraid to take up leadership positions. 

An Abuja-based pastor, Atinuke Asegieme in her exhortation, charged women never to be afraid to turn their negative pasts into triumphs by opening up and walking above their past. In her words, “We have the potential and power inbuilt in us as women. We must exercise it to better the society. We are not in competition with men, but we stand tall.”

An international speaker, Dr Laretta Sanders from the United Arab Emirates, likewise spoke on the major fears that women have. “Not Enough. Failure. Disappointment”. She urged women to “start from somewhere first and move from there”. 

Other Speakers were Pastor Eno Jerry-Eze, Memunat Kadiri, Shivangi Walke from Switzerland, Glaspie Kimberly from the UAE and many others from Italy, India and Finland, whose educative speeches, sensational renditions, praise and worship and inspiring admonitions held guests spellbound for hours. 

Meanwhile,  Mike Abdul, Adeyinka Alaseyori, Bidemi Olaoba, Sunmisola Agbebi, Chigozie Wisdom, BJ Sax, Emma Oh My God were among the gospel musicians who thrilled participants at the conference. 

Also in attendance were Special Adviser to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former First Lady of Akwa-Ibom, Mrs Martha Udom, wife of Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mrs Tokunbo Alabi, wife of a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mrs Tokunbo Awoniyi, industrialist, Mrs Stella Okoli, Iyalode of Lagos Chief Bintu Tinubu among others. 

No fewer than 10,000 less privileged families were gifted free Arise pink buckets, filled with foodstuffs such as rice, beans, tomato paste, semo, groundnut oil and many other items. 

Also, women were educated on the prevention,  management, and treatment of fibroids by specialist doctors which generated interesting discourse.