Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has urged women of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Owerri to draw their strength from Christ and deploy their God-given gifts in the service of the Church, family and society.
Dr. Ubani made the call while delivering the keynote address, “The Source of Our Strength,” at the Annual Women’s Conference of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, held at St. John’s Anglican Church, Naze, Owerri.
Taking his text from Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Ubani cautioned against interpreting the scripture as a declaration of human self-sufficiency. Rather, he described it as a testimony to the sufficiency of God’s grace in every circumstance.
According to him, true Christian strength is not the absence of weakness, difficulties or vulnerability, but the ability to remain firmly anchored in Christ when confronted by the challenges of life.
He particularly challenged women, who often carry multiple responsibilities as mothers, wives, professionals, entrepreneurs, church workers and community leaders, to recognise that they do not have to manufacture the strength required to meet every challenge.
“Christ does not always remove the burden; He strengthens the bearer,” Ubani said, stressing that while God sometimes changes circumstances, at other times He gives believers the grace to endure and triumph in the midst of those circumstances.
The former NBA Vice President urged the women to make their strength purposeful, asking them to move beyond the pursuit of personal achievement to becoming instruments of service and positive transformation.
He said the Church needs women whose strength is tempered by wisdom, character and faith, women who can raise godly children, strengthen families, mentor younger generations, support the vulnerable and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Church and society.
Ubani further admonished the women to remain connected to their divine Source through prayer, the study of the Word, w
orship, fellowship and service.
The conference also featured a special celebration marking the preparatory retirement of the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor, and his wife, Mama Egbu, Mrs. Ngozi Chioma Okorafor, in recognition of their years of service to the Diocese.
The event was principally organised by Her Worship, Mrs. Maureen Onyewotu, a retired Chief Magistrate in Imo State Judiciary, and Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, alongside Lady Ngozi Naze and others.
The gathering also provided a remarkable reunion of old University of Nigeria classmates. Mrs. Onyewotu and Dr. Ubani were classmates at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, from 1985 to 1989. Also present were Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Ngozi Olehi, and Chief Kelvin Mbawuike, who were classmates of both Ubani and Mrs. Onyewotu during their university days.
The conference attracted several women of the Diocese, as well as Justices of the courts, serving and retired magistrates in the State, and lawyers associated with the Anglican Church, underscoring the significance of the occasion beyond the women’s conference itself.
The presence of members of the legal and judicial community also added a unique professional dimension to the event, with several of the attendees sharing longstanding relationships with the keynote speaker and the chief organisers.
Ubani concluded by reminding the women that their ultimate strength and identity should not be rooted in their possessions, positions, relationships or achievements, but in Christ.
“The testimony of the Christian woman is not, ‘Look how strong I am,’ but, ‘Look what God has enabled me to become,’” he declared, before calling on the Church to echo its resounding “Amen.”
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