Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Dr Modupe Familoni, the wife of the Anglican Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Oyo South, has called on Christian women across Nigeria to remain steadfast in their God-given responsibility of building strong families, nurturing godly children, and contributing meaningfully to the development of the nation despite the country's pressing socio-economic challenges. Familoni, who is the President of the Mothers' Union and Women's Guild of the diocese, made the call on Saturday, 11 July 2026, while delivering her address at the opening of the first Annual Women's Conference of the Missionary Diocese of Oyo South, held at the Cathedral Church of St John, Akinmoorin, Oyo State. The two-day conference, themed "Keep Hope Alive" (Romans 15:13), attracted wives of clergy, women leaders, Mothers' Union and Women's Guild members, and other Christian women from across the diocese.
Speaking on the conference theme, Familoni encouraged women not to surrender to despair in the face of Nigeria's economic hardship, insecurity, and moral decline. She urged them to anchor their hope firmly in God, who remains sovereign over every situation. According to her, the theme was prayerfully chosen to remind believers that regardless of prevailing circumstances, God is still on the throne and remains faithful to His promises. "The situation in Nigeria today can easily discourage anyone. Every day we are confronted with disturbing reports of kidnapping, killings, rape, economic hardship, and other forms of insecurity," she said. "Such reports are capable of affecting our emotional and mental well-being. However, as children of God, we must refuse to allow fear or hopelessness to define us. Our hope is in Christ, and we are confident that He will see us through every challenge."
Familoni described women as indispensable partners in God's programme for nation-building, stressing that every responsible home produces responsible citizens, while broken homes often contribute to societal decay. "It is often said that when you educate a girl child, you educate a nation. Every woman is a nation builder because she nurtures the future through the children God places in her care. The values, discipline, faith, and character we instil in our children today will determine the quality of leadership and citizenship Nigeria will have tomorrow," she added. She observed that many of the social problems confronting the nation today can be traced to failures within the family structure and therefore urged mothers to intentionally raise children in the fear of God, with sound moral values and unwavering Christian doctrine.
Beyond family life, the conference expressed deep concern over the state of critical sectors in Nigeria, particularly education and healthcare. The conference observed that although efforts have been made by governments to improve healthcare delivery, many rural communities in Oyo State, especially in Oyo and Afijio Local Government Areas, still lack functional Primary Healthcare Centres, qualified medical personnel, essential drugs, and modern medical equipment. Consequently, residents are often compelled to travel long distances before accessing quality healthcare services. Familoni therefore called on the Oyo State Government to prioritise the health sector by upgrading healthcare facilities, recruiting doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, equipping hospitals with modern facilities, and ensuring that every community has access to quality and affordable healthcare services. On education, she reiterated the need for increased investment in educational infrastructure, improved teachers' welfare, safer learning environments, and stronger collaboration among government, parents, communities, and other stakeholders to reduce the growing number of out-of-school children and improve the quality of education across the country.
Familoni also expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity in the country, particularly the recent abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. She, however, appreciated President Bola Tinubu, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Amotekun Corps, and all other local security agencies for their commitment and coordinated efforts that culminated in the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers. Describing their release as an answered prayer, she urged both the Federal and Oyo State Governments to prioritise the medical, psychological, emotional, and educational rehabilitation of the victims, noting that adequate care and support would help them recover from the traumatic experience and return to normal life. She further called on governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and communities through improved intelligence gathering, enhanced security architecture, and proactive measures capable of preventing future occurrences.
The conference featured inspiring Bible teachings, fervent prayers, plenary sessions, worship sessions, health and family discussions, and practical exhortations aimed at strengthening women spiritually, emotionally, socially, and economically. Participants departed with renewed hope and a deeper commitment to building godly homes, supporting the Church, promoting national development, and keeping hope alive regardless of prevailing circumstances. Familoni's message resonated with the gathering, serving as a powerful reminder that even in the face of daunting national challenges, women remain central to the task of rebuilding the nation from the ground up, one family at a time.
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