The General Council of Assemblies of God (AG) Nigeria has begun the 2024 Peniel Convention at the Evangel International Conference Centre located at Km 48, Enugu/Abakaliki Road, Okpoto, Ebonyi State.
The theme of the five-day event, is “Dominion through the light.”
The General Superintendent of AG Nigeria, Rev. Abel Amadi, emphasised that the event was designed to revive the Church and reposition it for greater impact and relevance in today’s world.
“The task of the Great Commission cannot be overemphasized. We must prepare ourselves and renew our commitment to this mission, empowering believers to take charge in every area of life,” he said.
Amadi pointed out the widespread moral decay in the world, urging Christians to be driven by compassion to reach out to those who are lost.
He added: “This convention will ignite a passion for evangelism and discipleship, as we gather to experience the fire of the Holy Spirit.”
The Lead speaker and Lead Pastor of Bethel Covenant Assembly of God in San Antonio, Texas, USA, Dr. John Aniemeke, expressed excitement about the conference, affirming that it would be a powerful gathering.
Aniemeke, who has attended the Peniel Convention multiple times and is considered a spiritual “son” of the AG Nigeria family, shared his belief that the word of God would be powerfully delivered throughout the event.
“I’m confident that this convention will be impactful, and many attendees will experience a fresh encounter with the Word of God,” he said.
Not too long ago, GTCO held its 14th Annual Autism Conference, which it tagged; A spectrum of possibilities. But beyond the conference and speeches, Gboyega Alaka took time to interact with some parents shouldering the responsibility of catering to autistic children. From Jennifer who is afraid to try for another child eleven years after, to Dr Ruka who is doing all she can to ensure her son is ready for adulthood, the responses were varying and educative. Intervention experts also shared their views.
What do you do if your child clocks two, three, four; even five and is not talking, although clearly not deaf or mute?
It, perhaps, gets more frustrating if the child is the loner type, who prefers not to mingle, and would rather revel in his/her own world, rarely paying attention to anyone – not even family members, however familiar, or parents?
The likelihood is that you would panic, be scared or confused outright?
As a matter of fact, majority of the mothers spoken to at the 14th Annual Autism Conference held in July this year admitted to panicking when they first suspected that their wards were different.
Even though some weren’t exactly sure of the clinical definition of these symptoms, they feared it’s a situation that could grow worse, jeopardise their children’s future and make them perpetually dependent.
For some, it’s a perpetual assignment that would deny them even of their own future and usual life as parents.
A particular parent, Sarah, an insurance agent who lives in Lagos, confessed to this reporter that she is not considering having another child just yet and maybe never.
“I’m afraid; I can’t do it again. The pregnancy was difficult in itself; and now it’s been eleven years of my life, and I think if I have another child, I’ll not be able to give that child everything. So it’s better for me to have one. Right now, that possibility (of having another) is not there at all,” Sarah revealed.
“I first discovered that my daughter, Jane (not real name) was different as far back as when she was six months old. She couldn’t roll; she couldn’t raise her hands; she couldn’t meet the regular milestones that she was supposed to meet by at the usual ages. That was when my suspicion started. Even when other children, her age-mates could blab, she wasn’t making any attempt to talk; there were a lot of issues, and we were going in and out of hospitals. She had some neuro challenges, psychomotor challenges; so we started suspecting. Then some specialists around were actually telling me what to do.”
Did she have any idea what the problem was?
“I knew the word autism but never paid attention to it. I never suspected that my child could have it – because my impression of autism was on the extreme side. So when I saw those signs in her, it didn’t even occur to me until people started calling my attention to it and I started complaining and seeing doctors. When she was two years, I took her to LUTH for evaluation and they just told me point on that it was autism.”
Asked pointedly if she panicked at this realisation, Sarah sighed heavily and exhaled: “It was more than panic, I was afraid, I was angry, I asked why!”
Did she fear it was a worse condition like Down Syndrome? ‘No, no, she is autistic,’ she replied with confidence and relief.
Progress, slowly and steadily
“She didn’t walk until she was four, and she just had like two teeth from when she was a baby till she was four, five years. That in itself was alarming. She started crawling only when she was one year, six months; and we still had to hold her to walk up till when she was three years; else she would fall. It wasn’t until she clocked five that she got the confidence to walk on her own.
“But now she can walk by herself, she can run, she can dance, she can use the restroom herself, she can cleanup; she’s doing very well in school; she does like 1 to over 1000; she can look for a way to communicate what she wants, she can socialise with her mates. But the speech is not coming fluently like in sentences. However, she’s coping well with her environment.”
‘She was not talking; I didn’t know what to do’
Like Sarah, Jennifer admitted to her panic and fear when she noticed certain abnormalities in her now five-year-old daughter.
“She was not talking even after she clocked one; so I became concerned and got her a teacher. The teacher came on with much excitement, assuring me that all will be well and that she’d start talking in no time. But nothing changed and my panic increased. At this point, I really didn’t know what next to do, but my mum told me to calm down and that she would talk. Now she is five years old and she’s still not talking. And she’s giving few signs of autism.”
Asked if she was familiar with the signs of autism, she said: “I started reading about it when she was like three years old, because I was concerned and looking for an explanation. I actually became convinced during my reading researches. Apart from not talking, there was something about her eyes. At about that time, I took her to LUTH and we were told to come back and see a pediatrician. However, we did not go back, because the queue was too long.”
Would that mean that she went home and resigned to fate?
“Not really; we recently moved from Lagos Mainland to Lagos Island, so the school she attends now has a speech therapist, who also comes to the house.”
Is she certain her daughter’s condition is autism?
“Yes,” she responded, “otherwise what could it be? At five, she still does not talk. And then before she started school, she was always on her own. She likes to play on her own. The brother has no such issue, so he sometimes plays with her. Aside that she doesn’t play with anyone.”
Bunmi, a self-employed mother of six was lucky, if one could call it that. Her son, now six-year-old was diagnosed with the condition right at the hospital; so she didn’t have to wait and wonder.
“I first knew he is different right from cradle. He was diagnosed at the hospital.”
Apart from that, the kid displayed the usual signs.
“Everything delayed,” she started. “The talk, walking; at some point, he even had issues with eating. He became picky to the extent that he didn’t want to collect anything at all. So we had to consult a nutritionist. He helped us with a step-by-step guide on how to feed him and what to feed him. So now he has come out of that and he is eating well. And he wasn’t suckling at all.”
Even now at six, Bunmi admits that he’s still not talking.
“He has words; if you listen, you will know what he’s saying. Some clear, some not too clear.”
She also admits to being sad at the initial stage. “But I just told myself that whatever it is, we’ll identify with him, we’re in it together, we’ll walk through it. And thanks to God, He has been bringing timely help, He’s been helping us.”
There have also been positives, and Bunmi would glowingly share them.
“There are many happy moments. In fact we love to be around him. He has not got any dull moments – whether in church, in school, everywhere. In fact he has got us a lot of invitations to places.”
The GTCO Autism Conference has also been helpful. She now has many insights to the condition. “Now I know some things I shouldn’t have done and the ones I should have done better. And I’m happier.”
As a matter of fact, she now feels like she can help other people battling the same condition.
‘We try to make every moment beautiful, memorable’
Perhaps because of Dr Ruka’s exposure, both as an academic doctor and because she had lived and worked in the education sector in the United Kingdom, she declared unequivocally that she did not panic when she noticed the signs. That, however, did not free her from the little sadness that comes with that realisation.
“No, I did not panic, but I was sad initially. However, I understood that it’s not going to change. It’s for you to adjust your mental status on how to now support your child and yourself. I first noticed that my boy was different, when he was three, four months old. I noticed that something was different in his interactions and responses to stimuli. From there, we began more focused monitoring of him. His interactions as he grew older were more of introvert style. His speech was also limited. And by the time he started crèche – this, by the way was when I was still in the UK, they noticed that he wasn’t interacting with his peers; so the school made an official notification, and then a speech therapist and a psychologist were engaged from the school to monitor his interaction both in school and at home. This support continued until we came back to Nigeria.”
Dr. Ruka admitted that her background played a huge part in her understanding of the situation.
“I’d worked in the care sector while I was in the UK, as well as the Education sector. In the education sector, the school I was seconded to was a mixed school. That means we had regular students and children with special needs. That gave me that exposure before I had mine. So seeing the signs just raised the flags and we continued with the support. When we came to Nigeria, the professionals were not there but the informal, especially the teachers, were supportive. And it’s been steady. At different points, we had to see psychologists – first when my dad died, because he was very close to him; and also last year when mum died.”
Fortunately, Dr. Ruka stated that her son’s case is the sort academically categorised as ‘medium scale’, because “he exhibits the introvert status more, and is focused on numbers and dates. That’s why it is called Focal Point.”
This is also an upside for the now 15-year-old. “So we encourage him; the teachers have also supported him in every class he gets to. He attends a regular school and is even in a boarding house. By so doing, he has moved out of his comfort zone, because I tell him that mummy will not always be there, your brother will also not always be there; you have to learn to start interacting with people outside your circle.”
Fortunately, the boy has not had to fight off stigmatisation and the usual taunting by school peers. This, according to his mother, is because the missionary school he attends does not allow it and the teachers are particular about the children’s welfare. Being a boarding student has also helped, as he gets to mix more and widen his friendship circle outside the family.
Would that mean he has improved speech-wise?
“He talks with us and he talks above us. By that I mean he makes such statements that we’ll be wondering – where is this coming from? On such occasions, I’d say, ‘come to our level, come to our level.’ And it’s not said in a derogatory manner to make him feel uncomfortable.”
So there are beautiful moments?
“Of course. Every time we try to make it beautiful, memorable moments. And the brother, the big brother has always been big brother.”
Does she fear for the future?
“Before, yes, but not now. Because of the few years he has spent in boarding school, his degree of interaction has increased. He’s willingly calling out to people to talk with them, and that’s one decision I’m happy I took. His brother will be leaving the school soon, but he has built his own friendship circle. So if the brother leaves, he’ll have his own. Maybe because I’m also in the education sector, I don’t want him to suffer when he gets into a tertiary institution, because that is when he’ll be forced to learn how to live and mingle with people outside his comfort zone. So before it gets to that, let’s do it now when he’s younger and adaptable.
“We must define autism by its strength rather than its weakness”
Regrettably, children with autism, like other special needs children such as Downs Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy, still suffer huge, degrading discrimination in this part of the world. Notice that virtually all the parents spoken to above opted to shield the identity of their wards; but they definitely would have freely given out their names, even have them photographed, if the topic had been about academic or sporting excellence.
Bernadette N. Kilo, a Cameroonian born medical doctor from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, an autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist, who works in Developmental Pediatrics, responding to a question on how discrimination of such children can be reduced or eliminated outright and better inclusiveness achieved for them, said “when we define something by its challenges, we stigmatise it.
Kilo, who was one of the facilitators at the GTCO Autism Conference, said, “Naturalistically, intuition causes us to associate stigma with threat. Threat leads to fear, and fear causes us to reject and exclude these individuals. If we learn to define autism from its strength rather than its challenges, we will begin to speak the language of identifying the strength first. So what we must do as a people and as a community is to learn to see the pluses that autism has. Other societies are doing it. Where I live, they look at autism as a plus, and they employ them. If the FBI or the CIA can create programmes and take young autistic children to read codes and decode them, why can we not do same in Africa. We can. We must?”
Asked to speak on the strengths, Kilo said: “I will take the most common, which a lot of parents are quick to notice, which is the lack of speech and language acquisition; keep in mind that verbal expression only makes up 14 percent of communication. The rest, 86 percent is non-verbal and is gestural. So if I’m speaking to you, you can tell that even though my words may sound very pleasant, my face may be telling a different story. A lot of time we pay attention to only 14 percent, which is the expressive language. Autism uses a lot of gestural, a lot of sensory and a lot of behaviour to communicate. These three aspects make up the 86 percent of communication, which we don’t use. That is the strength of autism. Other strengths include that they are quick to recognise colour; they are good at pattern recognition. Imagine a child who, on first encounter, is able to tell that there are 20 holes in cabin biscuits; I’ve been eating cabin biscuits for 47 years, did I ever pay attention to the number of holes in them? A lot of us don’t even know that it takes three holes in a cabin biscuit to make a triangle, or which triangles can be made perfectly. These are just a few, but there are way too many.”
Effectively, she is of the opinion that everybody must play their part, not excluding the government in the drive towards inclusivity. “Who makes up the nation? If you and I sit coy, there is no way the guys up there would do anything, unless it touches them personally. And even if it touches them personally, they have the financial wherewithal to send their kids to the UK, America, Canada, to seek better intervention/services.”
Kilo’s recommended interventions
By way of intervention, Kilo recommends that parents of children with suspected case of autism should, as a first step, work with a pediatrician; possibly see a speech therapist if the child is not able to attain speech and language.
“The other thing they may need to put in place is Occupational Therapy to address their sensory differences. We all use our senses on a regular basis. As I sit here, I can hear the voice of the speaker in the hall, but I am able to tune out of his voice and focus on you; there are some people who cannot. So they need assistance with that, to be tunnel-minded when they come to interact with people. As I sit here, if I sense a smoke, I immediately know that there is fire somewhere, so my body begins to wonder – is the fire close by or far away? Do I sit or run? You see how we use our senses to engage our environment? When that is off, it poses a challenge. Sensory processing goes hand in hand with communication.”
Is it safe to presume that a three-year-old child who is not able to speak is autistic?
“It will be a good place to start,” Kilo replied, “but autism is not just about not having speech. It is a constellation of symptoms. We must also see the social interaction of this child. Is this a child who typically does not want to be around others? Or maybe they want to be around other people, or they don’t want to engage with those people? These are the children who would play on the side; they don’t acknowledge the presence of a parent or loved one who walks into the house. A child is sitting there playing, and mum and dad walks in and they don’t even show the typical excitement to go and greet them. Those are some of the little things we look at. So it is a combination of things, not just one thing.”
We all have limitations – Duyile
Like Kilo, Lanre Duyile, a board certified behaviour analyst blamed the discrimination on autistic children on societal tendency to look at their mental disabilities and limitations.
“People look mainly at their mental disabilities; they think about their limitations – he’s not able to do this, he’s not able to do that; but beyond that, the individuals that we work with can actually do way more. They give us insights with what is going on with them, what is going on with us, the outlook they have about the world. So it is just beyond limitations. Everyone has limitations; we need to focus on what these folks are able to do, their strengths…. And that’s what we’re encouraging us to do this year.”
Duyile, who spoke on ‘Using antecedent manipulations to improve learning and behaviours’ at the GTCO Autism Conference, is however of the opinion that the limitations are always going to be there. Like I said, we all have limitations because nobody is perfect. Let’s assume you are not able to communicate in English, that is your limitation; and then you go to school and you’re able to speak English, then that limitation is gone. It is the same with autism. They have a lot of limitations that we don’t understand, but with training, with proper programming, we are able to work with them in such a way that those limitations are removed as much as possible, and then they’re able to do independent living. They’re able to fend for themselves and do a whole lot of things in the community.”
According to Duyile, there are three areas that autism affects. “It may just be a language delay, such that he may start talking as late as age four. However, the fact that a child is having a delay does not automatically mean that he is autistic; so we have to do some assessments to see if he fits those three areas that impairment may be seen. If he fits all three, then he may have a diagnose of autism; but if it just one area, then it is not.”
The Heal the World Foundation and Apostle Tola Olukilede Foundation last Sunday delivered legacy projects at Gbagada General Hospital and Orile Agege General Hospital, both secondary health facilities in Lagos.
At Gbagada General Hospital, where the foundations unveiled its renovation of the whole of the second floor of the hospital, the MD/CEO, Dr. Olusegun Joseph thanked and commended Dr. Olukilede for delivering projects at the hospital for the second year running; he especially appreciated the fact that the foundation has moved from renovating just one department/rooms, to renovation a whole floor.
By so doing, Dr. Joseph said the foundation has renovated the Psychiatry Clinic, the ENT Clinic and the Seminar Room, which he said doubles as counseling room for relatives of patients.
Notably, Dr. Joseph pointed out that the renovation of the Psychiatry department carries multiple advantages, including impacting the health of the patients. “Because psychiatry illness is a thing of the mind, when such patients are treated in a clean environment, 50% of the job is done.”
Special Guest of Honour of the day, the MD Toyota Nigeria Limited, expressed his delight at being part of such laudable project, he commended the philanthropy of Dr. Olukilede, considering his background, which wasn’t so opulent, even as he described him as ‘an elder brother’ because like him, he is also from Ilara-Mokin, and one of his ‘very diligent staff’ whom he doesn’t joke with.
Speaking, Apostle Dr. Olukilede said the project, along with another to be unveiled later the same day at Orile Agege General Hospital, were the foundation’s legacy projects for the year: “Apart from scholarships, payment of hospital bills, provision of accommodation for indigent citizens, the Legacy Project is a book we have started writing about us for people to read many years to come.”
Led by Olukilede and Ade-Ojo, the team did a ‘ward round,’ praying for patients, anointing some and even paying hospital bills of some lucky patients.
At Orile-Agege General Hospital, the Heal the World Foundation and Apostle Tola Olukilede Foundation unveiled a Children’s Ward fully equipped with beddings and mattress.
The MD/CEO of the hospital, Dr Sola Pitan thanked the foundation and the entire crew for the gesture, which he said was timely, especially as it was about to be considered for Housemanship for trainee doctors.
He took the visitors through the history of the hospital, which has seen it emerge as a major go-to hospital in the Agege/Abule-Egba axis of Lagos, since it started out as a PHC in 1982 and was upgraded to a General Hospital in 1999. He highlighted the progress of the hospital since he took over as MD/CEO, to include expanding the Emergency Room hospital beds from 15 to 30 beds, physiotherapy now has five treatment rooms, hospital now has six theatres from two, including the fact that Anchor University now uses it for its School of Nursing clinical rotation; earning the tag ‘Chief Marketing Officer’ of the hospital from Mr. Ade-Ojo and Apostle Olukilede.
As Rev. Dr. Janet Onaolapo, Deputy Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos, and General Overseer of Abundant Life Gospel Church, celebrates her church’s 40th anniversary, she reflects on her journey in ministry, the challenges faced, and the evolving role of women. In this exclusive interview with The Nation, Rev. Onaolapo shares lessons learned, remarriage, commitment to boundaries, and a vision for the future of women in ministry.
LOOKING back on your journey of 40 years in ministry, what are your thoughts on this path?
I feel immensely grateful to God for His grace and sustaining power. Abundant Life Gospel Church began in 1984, founded by my husband before we met. We married in 1986, and I joined him in full-time ministry in 1988 after resigning from my job. It’s been a long journey, but one filled with purpose and a deep commitment to serving God.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned over the years?
Faith, focus, and reliance on God. I have learned to trust Him completely, even when the journey feels uncertain. One of our greatest accomplishments is the 40,000-seat cathedral, a vision God gave my husband back in 1984. Although it seemed impossible, we stepped forward in faith, believing in God’s promises. It’s a testament to how faith can turn the unseen into reality.
I’ve learnt to be focused. I have learnt to trust the Lord. I have learnt to believe in the Lord. I have learnt to rely on Him absolutely. I’ve learnt never to rely on men. I have learnt to walk by faith. Because, when you are looking forward, or expecting something from the Lord and it’s not happening. You can easily lose hope. Hope that it is coming. Eventually, you will see the manifestation. Because I do not see it now, it does not mean it’s not coming.
The cathedral that we built, God showed my husband in 1984 that he would build a 40, 000 sitting-capacity cathedral in the heart of a city but God didn’t tell him that city. In the end, it came into fruition.
After your husband’s passing, how did you handle transitioning into leadership?
I had been involved in the ministry alongside my husband, so when he passed, it was a continuation rather than a new beginning. We have been doing it together, thus, it was not difficult continuing the ministry. The problem with some wives is that they are not involved in their husband’s ministry. When their husband passed on, they just wanted to take over. It does not make sense, because those who have been there, are the best to continue. Many women face a brick wall trying to take over from their husband’s ministry after their departure. I used to tell women, how were you involved in your husband’s ministry? It is not ‘Thus saith the Lord when the husband dies, the wife takes over.’ If you had been there and you were doing it together, then the transition to the wife could be possible. I did not ask to be the GO. When my husband died and we were praying, God told me to continue where he stopped. I had a spiritual mandate only my spiritual mentor, family and a few others knew. I didn’t pursue leadership; it was a path God led me to. The board of trustees asked me to step into the role a day after we buried my husband and though I hesitated, they insisted, seeing that God’s hand was on this decision. I had to adjust from being a supportive partner to leading the vision, but God’s grace has sustained me in this new role. I have been involved. It was not strange and difficult to flow.
What is your approach to leading as a woman in ministry?
I focus on being faithful to God’s calling rather than on any perceptions around gender. In God’s eyes, His Spirit empowers us equally. I aim to lead with integrity and a heart aligned with His purpose, trusting in the strength He gives me.
After years of ministry and dedication, have you ever considered remarrying?
No, I haven’t. My calling was to serve alongside my husband for the purpose of fulfilling God’s mandate, and that purpose continues. I’m content with the grace God has given me, and I feel no need to remarry. Each person’s path is different, and for me, I am at peace where I am, fulfilling God’s work.
I never wanted to get married in the first place. So God said, marry this man ( my late husband) to fulfill my mandate. So I am not looking for a man. I don’t want to marry. I will be 63 in December. I’m not going to marry. So, I mean, my disposition is such that anybody that comes around me knows that this woman is not interested. Of course, I have had one or two people’s body language. I’m a very straightforward person. If you come around me and I see body language, I say, look, I’m not somebody like that. I just put you where you belong. My love is without hypocrisy. And my work is without hypocrisy. I do my thing uprightly.
Is it an issue to remarry?
It’s not an issue. It’s not an issue at all. I tell young widows, the bible says that young widows should remarry. But for older widows that can hold themselves, it’s not necessary. So, it’s your decision, not anybody else’s. A lot of people have asked me, ‘Oh, you are still young now. I mean, you need a companion.’ I’m fine. I’m fine. I am fine. God has given me the grace. So, if I’m not, I would not be deceiving myself. For me, I may be alone. I am not lonely. I have the Holy Spirit and it is God’s grace. So, don’t look at me as a superwoman thing. When God gives you grace, you listen to Him. So, to me, I think it’s a grace.
How do you maintain boundaries to avoid negative influences in ministry?
I set clear boundaries to keep my focus and well-being intact. For example, I don’t entertain men or ministry guests in my home. Instead, I meet them at my office on designated days. Once I’m home, I make it known that my door is closed. I avoid staying late or being available for spontaneous visits. I set clear boundaries. So, it’s my way of helping me not to be under too much pressure. This discipline helps me maintain a structured environment, allowing rest and ensuring I stay focused on God’s work.
What is your perspective on women’s role in ministry?
I believe there’s no gender distinction in the Holy Spirit’s work. At Pentecost, the Spirit-filled both men and women equally. As women, while we do have family responsibilities, our ability to serve God is not limited. I encourage women in ministry to pursue their calling fully, with the understanding that God has equipped them for the roles He calls them to.
So personally, I don’t have the mentality of gender. I don’t ever look at myself and say I am a woman. I look at myself as somebody who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Women in ministry should be allowed to thrive. There is no gender. However, we are wives, and mothers and are limited in our roles. If you are in ministry, do ministry. We have presidents who are women, governors and prime ministers who are women
What is your vision for the PFN and its new direction?
There’s a fresh vision and hope to change narratives that may have affected the church in the past. I’m here to serve and bring a renewed focus. We’re committed to a new dawn, a season of integrity and dedication to advancing the mission God has given us.
The President and Founder of Christ Life Spring Centre, Prophetess Fanny Ekpekurede has charged Christian women to embrace their full potential and purpose in all areas of life, including ministry, marriage, and societal engagement.
Ekpekurede gave this charge at the Glam and Fire conference, organized by Steve Ovat Ministries International, held at their church in Lekki, Lagos.
The event with the theme ‘Kingdom Woman, If God Be for You, Don’t Be Against You. Limitations: Identify Them, Break them and Soar,’ featured seminars and interactive sessions aimed at empowering attendees.
Speaking passionately, she highlighted the vital role women play in promoting spiritual and societal values, urging them to step confidently into their unique callings.
She stressed that fulfilling one’s purpose extends beyond individual growth, serving to strengthen families, churches, and communities.
Her call resonated deeply, reinforcing the message that women’s faith and contributions are essential for fostering unity, resilience, and progress.
Founder of Woodhall Capital, Mojisola Elizabeth Hunponu-Wusu, spoke on the intersection of faith and purpose for Christian women.
“To say you are a Christian woman means being committed to God’s will, not your own.
“If your plans don’t align with God’s, they aren’t God’s plans. It’s His journey, His story, and our role is to seek His guidance.”
Reflecting on her personal journey, Hunponu-Wusu described her faith as a profound relationship with God, who has led her through challenges and successes. “God has a plan for each of us. While people may seek validation from external sources, God calls us into a daily walk with Him, rooted in love and purpose.”
In her words, the convener and Founder Glam & Fire Initiative for Women and Girls, Peggy Ovat explained that the conference aimed to empower women to recognize and pursue their identities and destinies with confidence and authenticity.
The Female Ministers’ Conference, a branch of Royal Ladies International, a legacy programme of about 20 years convened by the late Reverend Fola Achudume (RFA), lead Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, continued its impactful tradition at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos this Saturday.
Reverend Fola Achudume had meticulously planned and prepared for this conference before her passing, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her ministry. Her foresight and dedication extended to every detail, including payment for the venue and logistical arrangements, ensuring a seamless execution of the event.
In a welcome address, Engineer Bola Adeoye, Global Team Leader, Royal Ladies International, celebrated RFA’s enduring legacy. “Reverend Fola Achudume’s impact will continue to speak for generations to come.
“She was a woman of many parts, touching the lives of children, youth, adults, women, vulnerable women, and widows. Her selflessness and dedication to empowering others will never be forgotten,” Adeoye said.
Adeoye noted that the Female Ministers Conference was a yearly event, with this being the sixth edition. “We will continue Reverend Fola’s vision, and our team will keep the flag flying,” she assured.
On his part,Apostle Lawrence Achudume, RFA’s spouse, reflected on her legacy, saying, “My wife’s vision was to empower women, and we’re committed to sustaining it. She had planned this conference before her passing, and we’re honored to see it through.” He expressed gratitude to the conference speakers and attendees, acknowledging their support in continuing RFA’s work.
The Osun District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Rev. Ojo Gbadagesin, has urged Christians to remain unwavering in their faith and commitment to God, assuring them that “light will emerge at the end of the tunnel.”
Gbadagesin gave this message recently at the ‘Exceeding Glory 2024 Conference,” organized by the Assemblies of God, Ojo International Mega Church (AGOIMC) in Lagos,
The event featured an array of impactful activities, including Bible teachings, prayers, prophetic ministrations, and a Fire Conference for ministers and church workers.
He said that believers were instruments of God wherever they find themselves, carrying out His purposes in their communities.
He spoke passionately about the necessity of complete dedication to God, explaining, “All we owe Him is total commitment. As we represent God’s interests, He remains faithful, providing and protecting us in return.”
He likened this relationship to that of an employer caring for employees, affirming, “God is not in short supply; our part is to uphold our commitment to Him, positioning ourselves for His blessings.”
Acknowledging the social and economic struggles faced by many Nigerians, Gbadagesin drew strength from the history of the church, noting that Christianity had weathered dark periods, including times when publicly identifying with the church was dangerous. “One of the brightest scholars who initially wrote against Christianity eventually became one of the church’s greatest teachers,” he added, emphasizing the transformative power of prayer and faith.
Citing non-compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s [NERC] order, the Federal Government has directed the Ikeja Electricity and Eko Electricity discos to immediately halt their replacement of Unistar prepared meters billed to begin from Tuesday, 14th November.
Since the Discos intimated their customers about this replacement, many of them have been thrown into confusion, and fear of being made to bear the cost of the replacement after they had spent thousands on acquiring the old meters.
The Discos recently issued notices to their customers regarding the upcoming phase-out of Unistar prepaid meters due to the Token Identifier [TID] rollover issue.
The notice urged all affected customers to update their meters to avoid service disruptions. In a public statement, for instance, Ikeja Electric explained, “Dear esteemed customer, please note all Unistar meters will be phased out by 14th November 2024 as TID rollover beckons.”
The company encouraged customers to take prompt action by visiting their online portal to apply for a new prepaid meter.
The phase-out, a response to the technological limitations of the older meters, has sparked concerns among consumers about potential replacement costs and possible disruptions to their electricity service.
However, the DISCO communication was brief, leaving many consumers uncertain about the details of the transition and what steps they should take.
According to the Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC) Mr. Tunji Bello, the announcement lacked critical information regarding whether consumers would be liable for the replacement costs, raising fears that the transition could lead to arbitrary estimated billing and undue financial strain on consumers.
A desperate message from a troubled Ikeja Electric customer to the FCCPC portrays the feelings of many of the customers.
According to the text message “Good evening FCCPC. The exploitation of IKEDC on the change of meter is unacceptable. I have working meters in my house in GRA and they have given a deadline to change meters that ultimately belong to them without bearing some cost. To change the meters in my house will cost about N1m. Please kindly intervene. This is too much to bear at this difficult time, thank you”.
The FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, read out this text at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja which was attended by representatives from the NERC, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), various electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and Unistar Hitech Systems Limited to address pressing metering issues impacting Nigerian consumers.
To prevent potential exploitation, the FCCPC directed that all meter replacement processes be conducted transparently, with costs borne by the DisCos and not passed on to consumers.
Mr. Bello stressed that the FCCPC would enforce strict compliance with these regulatory requirements to protect consumers from arbitrary charges and estimated billing.
The FCCPC’s directive to discontinue the replacement process stems from the DisCos’ non-compliance with NERC’s “Order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.” Both NERC and NEMSA endorsed the FCCPC’s stance on the issue.
The NERC’s order mandates that DisCos must prioritise metering for unmetered customers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and follow strict guidelines for replacing faulty or obsolete meters. These guidelines require DisCos to inspect faulty meters and provide detailed information in the replacement notice, including the inspection date, the inspecting officer’s credentials, the identified fault, and the scheduled replacement date. Furthermore, DisCos are prohibited from placing customers on estimated billing due to delays in meter replacement, as new meters must be installed immediately upon removing any faulty or obsolete unit.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also urged electric distribution companies (DISCOs) to carry energy consumers along before classifying them into bands and also adhere strictly to industry regulations on billing unmetered consumers.
During the meeting, Mr. Bello highlighted significant issues facing electricity consumers, from billing inaccuracies to inadequate customer care. Mr. Bello noted that systemic inefficiencies and a culture of impunity among some service providers have intensified these issues, leading to the routine exploitation of consumers.
He expressed concern over practices that require consumers to pay upfront for meters without reimbursement, a direct violation of the NERC Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations 2021.
He also noted that DisCos frequently places consumers with faulty meters on estimated billing, which is prohibited under NERC’s regulations.
Bello also said that the FCCPC is committed to enhancing consumer education on metering and billing practices to guard against potential exploitation by service providers.
He concluded by expressing appreciation for the collaborative efforts of NERC and NEMSA in building a transparent, accountable, and consumer-centered electricity sector. He reaffirmed FCCPC’s dedication to enforcing all relevant consumer protection laws within the electricity industry to uphold consumer rights and promote fair market practices.
Various consumer bodies have expressed satisfaction with the decision taken by FCCPC. Consumer Advocacy Nig, a non-governmental organization lamented that Nigerian consumers were already under a lot of financial burden and should not be made to bear more burdens.
“If the Discos want to phase out the old meters they should bear the cost and should also carry consumers along when they take decisions that affect them,” said Barrister Emi Ekelemu, of Consumer Advocacy Nig.
Cletus Orji, a customer of IKEJA Disco said since he got that message about the installation of the new meter that he had not slept because “I do not know who will bear the cost. All my efforts to get explanations from the energy producer did not yield any fruits. For the time being I will sleep with two eyes closed.”
Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, renowned advertising guru and Chairman of Troyka Holdings has shared his thoughts on vital tools that contributed to his meteoric rise in Nigeria’s marketing communications industry in the last 50 years.
Speaking during a Fireside chat session anchored by Brandcomfest Convener, Joshua Ajayi tagged: ‘Legacy of a Living Legend,’ Shobanjo revealed that integrity, knowledge, passion, relationships, continuity, as well as other factors like quality childhood training are tested tools that can ensure lasting success in all areas of business life including the marketing communications industry.
The fireside chat was part of this year’s Brandcomfest held at the Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event themed, ‘Tech-driven Marketing Communications: Bridging Minds and Machine,’ had in attendance great minds, thought leaders, media players, and stakeholders in all the subsectors of the marketing and communications industry in Nigeria to explore the intersection of technology and marketing, where creativity meets innovation, where minds and machines can converge.
Sharing his life experiences, Shobanjo said “The strong impact of the past experiences that I have had in over 50 years hang on integrity. Whatever you say let people hold to it, and let people rely on your words. Knowledge is also extremely important as it helps to achieve successful results.
“Passion is another thing that has worked for me, in all of these years; all the companies that I worked for were paying me for the things that I enjoyed whereas some people find what they do as burdensome.
“Let me add that your relationship with people is vital in your life trajectory. I have met some incredible people along the road as colleagues, and clients, who later became my very close friends.”
Speaking on how he was able to sustain high standards across all his businesses from advertising to security services, Shobanjo said “Standard has always been the core value in all that I do. If the standard of where a child is raised is cleanliness then the child will grow up always aspiring to remain clean. I grew up with such privileges, following Standards because my late father was absolutely strict about it.
“Knowledge is so critical in moving society forward, but knowledge for knowledge’s sake is useless, and to successfully make good impact in this industry, the ‘town’ and the ‘gown’ will need to interact more across the board so that what we know in class can be accelerated in practical terms.”
Emphasizing the importance of continuity in building a lasting legacy in the industry, he said one of the challenges we face in this industry and even outside is Continuity.
Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of Brandcomfest and Publisher of Brand Communicator Magazine, Mr. Joshua Ajayi also touched on how technology has significantly reshaped the marketing landscape in Nigeria. His words, “what was once a traditional, one-way communication system is now a vibrant, data-driven, and highly interactive ecosystem.”
The event also featured a keynote speech delivered by Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, the founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria and a thought leader in data science and analytics.
He expertly illuminated how technology is changing the game for marketers and the critical role data plays in crafting effective marketing communications.
FoodCo, one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies, has announced the opening of its latest brand store in Ikotun, Lagos.
The Ikotun store marks a significant step for the company as it is the first brand store located within the Lagos Mainland.
This also brings the total number of stores to 22, spread across Ibadan, Lagos, and Abeokuta.
Speaking on the launch, Funmi Aiyepeku, the company’s Head of Innovation, Growth, and Business Transformation, emphasized that the move to Ikotun was driven by FoodCo’s mission to make modern retail accessible to all Nigerians regardless of their location or socio-economic conditions.
She said: “We are excited about the opening of the latest FoodCo brand store in Ikotun. This event also marks our formal expansion into the Lagos Mainland following earlier launches in Ikoyi and Lekki on the Island.
“Lagos State is home to over 20 million people and Ikotun is a major hub with a significant number of the city’s young and upwardly mobile population. FoodCo Ikotun offers a wide array of high-quality products including groceries, household essentials, apparel, and confectionery, all located within a modern and spacious shopping environment. We have curated an experience that not only matches the sophistication of today’s shopper but also complements the demands of their everyday lifestyle.
“As a customer-focused company, FoodCo customers can be rest assured that we will continue to strive to spread our locations to where they need us. This is why it gives us great pleasure to bring the convenience and quality assurance that modern retail offers to our customers in Ikotun and environs,” she added.
Established in 1982 as a fresh fruits and vegetable store, FoodCo is a diversified consumer goods company with interests in retail, quick service restaurants, manufacturing, and entertainment. With 22 outlets spread across Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun States, the company operates the largest supermarket chain brand in the Southwest, outside Lagos.
FoodCo was ranked in the Financial Times Annual Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies list for the consecutive years 2021 and 2022.
