Amidst the powerful messages delivered at the Global Women’s Conference aimed at empowering women to embrace virtue, freedom, and value in their lives, the Convener, Dr Williams Kumuyi, his wife, Esther, and other speakers tasked the participants to focus on personal transformation and purposeful living.  

Kumuyi, who is the Convener of the Change Makers International (CMI) Initiative, organizers of the conference, joined other resource persons in charging the participants to prioritize personal development and patriotic contribution to nation building.

The conference, which held on Friday August 16, 2024, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia in Port Harcourt, had in attendance women from all walks of life and international gospel artiste, Chioma Jesus leading the praise and worship sessions.

Dr. Kumuyi, who is also the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), in his keynote address, posed three critical questions to the attendees: “Who can find a virtuous woman? Who can free a victimized woman? Who can form a value-driven woman?”

He emphasized that true change begins with a clean heart, drawing inspiration from the biblical prayer of David: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”, encouraging women to seek personal renewal, highlighting that internal change is the key to external success.

Addressing the second question, Kumuyi tackled the mental and emotional chains that often bind women, urging the participants to reject a mindset of victimhood and embrace their potential for greatness, pointing out that “accusation is not equal to condemnation”.

He called on women to distinguish between their actions and identity, and to strive for purposeful achievement, challenging women to study themselves as diligently as they study academic and other subjects, stressing the importance of self-awareness, goal-setting, and pursuing a life of virtue and value.

Asserting that “there is always a place for a virtuous woman in any community,” Kumuyi urged women to prepare themselves for roles based on their readiness, virtue, and value, rather than gender.

Also speaking, wife of the General Superintendent, Esther Kumuyi stressed the importance of self-improvement, encouraging the attendees to revisit the messages from the event, reminding them that they are “made for more”, urging them to strive to become change-makers in their own right.

President of Islamic Sisters Association of Nigeria, Mariam Usman highlighted the unity displayed as Muslim and Christian women gathered to learn from each other without prejudice.

Hajia Usman, who is also the Special Adviser on Islamic Matters to the Mayor of Port Harcourt, emphasized the importance of interaction and understanding among different religious groups, reinforcing the conference’s theme of empowerment and unity.

In her presentation, President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Bibian Okogbule enjoined the women to pursue knowledge driven social impact, take a stand against customary practices that dehumanize the womenfolk, and take their place at decision making platforms.

“Pursue education, pursue knowledge, desire to be aware of the law that affects you as a woman and optimize it. Refuse to be used to drive dehumanizing customary practices.”

“It is said that when life gives you a lemonade out of it but I tell you that when life gives you bitter leaf makes onugbo soup from it. We must take our places; we must go to the decision making table beacuse we are made of more. We are women, we are made of more.”

“Embrace knowledge, embrace education; we must break the barriers that will not allow us to lead as women and support our fellow women when they try to lead.” 

Speaking, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health (Community and Preventive Paediatrics) at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Professor Alice Nte admonished the women that to drive positive change they have to sustain their pursuit of success and refuse to allow any challenge inhibit their forward press in life.

“It doesn’t matter where you are today, you will rise and be a great woman of success. A successful woman must be an expert in her field, she should learn and learn until she becomes successful. You are a great woman; you are set for success. You must drive positive change.”

“When you are striving for success, there are always challenges. God has set us for greatness and we must now allow ourselves to be belittled.”

“Global development cannot occur if the woman does not change. Women that are successful are very important and must be appreciated.”

“The decadence in the society can be traced down to the home. To achieve our goal, all women must rise up and say change will begin with me. I must take care of myself, family and society.”

The Global Women’s Conference concluded with a call by various resource persons who spoke for women to reflect on the principles shared, apply them to their lives, and rise to the challenges ahead.

The speakers emphasized that with God’s recreative power, women were assured that they could achieve great things, break free from victimization, and embody values that uplift both their own lives and the lives of those around them.