The Women Wing of the Christian Council of Nigeria (WOWICCN) has commenced its 7th Biennial Convention in Jos, Plateau State, with a call on Christian women to remain steadfast in faith and confront the challenges facing the country.
The convention, which opened on Friday, September 4, 2026, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Jos, is being held from September 2 to 6, 2026, under the theme, “For We Are Well Able to Overcome,” drawn from Numbers 13:30.
The gathering brought together the national leadership and members of WOWICCN, including national officers, zonal coordinators, state chairpersons and executives, delegates, ecumenical guests, partners and friends from across Nigeria.
In her address, the National Chairperson of WOWICCN, Prof. Ekwutosi Essien Offiong, said the convention was organised by the women’s wing of the Christian Council of Nigeria, an ecumenical body comprising about 16 denominations.
She explained that the theme was intended to remind Nigerians that although the country faces numerous challenges, God remains greater than the obstacles confronting individuals, families, communities and the nation.
According to her, Christian women, particularly those in Plateau State, should not lose faith despite the persistent challenges of insecurity, conflict and violence.
“My specific message to Plateau women is that you should not lose faith. These things come to threaten us, weaken us, depress and demoralise us. They should know that they have a God in heaven who sees everything and is still concerned with every affair concerning them,” she said.
The WOWICCN National Chairperson said the organisation had continued to build on the structures inherited from the previous leadership following the 6th Biennial Convention held in Ibadan in 2024.
She noted that despite persistent insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and attacks on communities, members of the women’s wing had remained committed to the service of God.
She said the convention’s theme was an assertion that Christians could overcome the numerous challenges confronting individuals, churches, communities, states and the nation because God is greater than every problem.
Delivering the keynote address, the President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Most Rev. David O. C. Onuoha, represented by Rev. Dr. Ephriam Simon Yakubu, described the convention in Jos as significant, noting that the city had experienced the painful consequences of ethno-religious violence.
He said the theme was not merely inspirational but a call to action, urging the women of WOWICCN to emulate the biblical Caleb, who declared that the Israelites were capable of overcoming the obstacles before them.
The keynote address identified insecurity and violence, economic hardship, gender injustice and spiritual compromise as some of the major challenges facing Christian women and Nigerians.
On insecurity, the CCN President noted that violence, banditry and abductions had affected communities across the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions, while Jos had also experienced ethno-religious violence.
He also highlighted economic hardship, including the effects of fuel subsidy removal, naira devaluation and inflation, which he said had placed significant pressure on women and children.
On gender injustice, he called for greater recognition of the role and contributions of women within the Church and society, stressing that women were gifted, anointed and commissioned for service.
He equally warned against spiritual compromise, including what he described as the replacement of biblical discipleship with personality worship and shallow Christianity.
He urged Christian women to remain grounded in Scripture, prayer and faith while building families and communities capable of withstanding contemporary challenges.
The CCN President further challenged young women not to allow the size of Nigeria’s problems to diminish the significance of their calling.
He encouraged women in different stages of life to remain committed to their responsibilities, while urging older and more experienced women to mentor and invest in younger generations.
He concluded by urging participants to leave the convention with the declaration, “We are well able to overcome,” not merely as a slogan but as an expression of faith and commitment.
The Plateau State Chairperson of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Evangelist Dorcas Yusuf Lenkat, described the hosting of the convention as an opportunity to bring women from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to Plateau State.
She said the gathering would help present a different narrative about Plateau State while strengthening Christian unity and providing an opportunity for participants to pray for peace in the state and across Nigeria.
According to her, the CCN comprises about 16 denominations nationally, with several denominations represented in Plateau State.
She said the presence of women from across the country in Jos demonstrated unity and provided an opportunity for collective prayers against persistent crises, killings and other social vices.
The General Secretary of WOWICCN, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, said the convention theme represented a profound statement of faith and confidence in God’s promises.
He commended the women for their contributions to Christian unity, family values, moral development and community transformation, noting that their prayers, evangelism, service and compassionate ministries had impacted many lives.
He expressed hope that the convention would deepen the participants’ faith, strengthen fellowship and equip them for greater service.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Chairman of CCN, Rt. Rev. Daniel Agbése, welcomed the participants to Jos and commended WOWICCN for choosing Plateau State as the host of the 2026 convention despite what he described as intimidating narratives about the state.
He said the gathering had transformed Jos into a centre of prayer, praise and fellowship and expressed optimism that the convention would have a lasting impact on the state and its people.
The opening ceremony ended with the presentation of awards to outstanding women in recognition of their selfless service to WOWICCN and ecumenical engagements.
Relief materials, including food items, clothes and toiletries, were also presented to internally displaced persons in Plateau State.
The WOWICCN National Chairperson, Prof. Ekwutosi Essien Offiong, also disclosed that WOWICCN donated relief materials, including food items and toiletries, to internally displaced persons (IDPs), describing the gesture as support for people who had been forced to leave the comfort of their homes because of insecurity.
She expressed hope that the affected persons would eventually return to their communities and rebuild their lives.
The convention is expected to continue with other activities before ending with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday.
