Human Rights
Ijesa North Anglican Women Urge FG, States to Tackle Insecurity, Hardship, Flooding
By Joseph Sunday
The Women and Girls’ Organisations of the Diocese of Ijesa North, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), have urged the Federal and State Governments to urgently address insecurity, economic hardship, flooding and other challenges confronting Nigerians.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2026 Annual Diocesan Joint Women’s Conference held from October 16 to 18 at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ere-Ijesa, Osun State. The communiqué was made available by the Diocesan Communicator, The Revd Canon Oluseyi Atanda.
Held under the theme “More Than Conquerors” – Romans 8:37 – the conference brought together 274 women from archdeaconries across the Diocese for spiritual renewal, fellowship and reflection on the role of Christian women in the Church, family and society.
In the communiqué, the women expressed deep concern over the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and the growing vulnerability of families, especially women, children and other disadvantaged groups.
They noted that sustainable national development requires responsible leadership, transparent governance, respect for the rule of law, prudent management of public resources and people-centred policies.
The conference called on governments and security agencies to strengthen the protection of lives and property, safeguard schools and communities, confront kidnapping and other violent crimes, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
The women also demanded urgent action on food security, affordable healthcare, quality education, job creation and programmes that promote economic independence for women and youths.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, they appealed to politicians and their supporters to shun violence, vote-buying, misinformation and divisive rhetoric, and urged Nigerians to discharge their civic responsibilities with wisdom and integrity.
On the environment, the conference decried recurring flooding and its devastating impact on homes, farmlands, roads, schools and livelihoods, urging churches and women’s groups to intensify environmental sanitation and community sensitisation.
In a strong push for the protection of women and children, the conference called for stronger safeguards against gender-based violence, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and discrimination through effective laws, public education, accessible support services and diligent prosecution of offenders.
It further urged the Church to establish and strengthen procedures for preventing and responding to abuse within church communities, insisting that victims must be treated with dignity and compassion, their safety prioritised and allegations handled responsibly in line with the law.
“The Church must remain a place of refuge and healing, where abuse is neither concealed nor excused,” the communiqué stated.
In separate resolutions, the women committed to strengthening Bible study, prayer, discipleship and evangelism, and to promoting skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, education and mentorship as pathways to self-reliance for women and girls.
They also resolved to work with church leaders and relevant agencies to prevent gender-based violence and protect vulnerable persons, while encouraging older women to mentor younger ones in Christian values and life skills.
The conference further urged responsible use of digital platforms to share the Gospel, promote truth and discourage hate speech and misinformation, and encouraged each women’s group to undertake practical community interventions in education, healthcare awareness and support for vulnerable families.
Reminding participants that being “more than conquerors” does not mean freedom from difficulties, the communiqué urged women to overcome fear, discouragement and unhealthy competition, build godly homes founded on love and mutual respect, and take their rightful place in leadership in the Church and society.
The conference concluded with a renewed call for responsible governance, a faithful and socially responsive Church, and women committed to strengthening families, nurturing the next generation and building a more just and peaceful society.
Quoting Romans 8:37, it affirmed: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”