WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR
A three-day 2018 Aguata Diocesan Women’s Conference begins tomorrow at Saint John the Divine Church, Oko with the theme: “Jesus Christ the Foundation and the Chief Cornerstone”.

With the theme, Christians are being reminded of the need to always anchor their faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith; as any foundation, not properly rooted in Christ, is bound to collapse.
This year’s Aguata Diocesan Women’s Conference is the 13th since the inauguration of the Diocese on September 4, 2005, and the first to be presided over by the new president of the Mothers’ Union, Women’s and Girls’ Guild, Mrs. Chinyere Hulder Ezeofor JP (Nnechukwunyere Global), since the enthronement of her husband, Right Reverend Samuel Chukwudi Ezeofor JP, PhD as the bishop of Aguata Diocese.
According to the Secretary, Aguata Diocesan Women’s Ministry, Mrs. Blessing Umeakuana, delegates will begin to converge on the venue from Thursday, August 2, by 12 noon for accreditation, while a special service to mark the commencement of the conference will take place by 4pm, to be followed by a retreat and group bible studies. Mrs. Chinyere Ezeofor, Mama Aguata, will, on Friday deliver her presidential address by 11am, to be followed by its launching.
Saturday, fourth is the unveiling and launching of the Aguata Diocesan Christian Light Magazine as well as Health talks by a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Mrs. Mmasinachi Umeh. Mrs. Juliana Ezeofor is the conference profile Mother. The Conference will reach its peak on Sunday, August 5, with a special thanksgiving service to be officiated by the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor and cutting of the conference cake by 9am.
Funds realized from the Conference will be channeled to various projects being embarked upon by the women, in addition to maintaining the existing ones. They include the Orphanage and Maternity Hospital at Igboukwu, the Garri Processing Factory at Okpeze and the Lampada Bottle and Sachet Water at Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area.
The immediate past president of Aguata Diocesan Women’s Ministry, Mrs. Jane Efobi (Nneifunanya), needs to be commended for laying a foundation for women activities in the Diocese. During her 12-year tenure, the women of the Diocese were trained in various skills through the Diocesan Skill acquisition centre at Ekwulobia, to help their spouses in the running of their families.
To sustain all these legacy projects, Mrs. Ezeofor, together with her husband Bishop Samuel, has visited all the Churches, institutions, and projects of the Diocese to ascertain their problems. During her maiden meeting with Clergy wives, and other female church workers, Mrs. Ezeofor told them to be above board, in addition to inculcating sound morals in their children.
The 13th Aguata Diocesan Women’s Conference is like Home coming for Mrs. Chinyere Ezeofor. It is being hosted by her home church. According to the Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Sir Chris Ike; Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Professor Henry Aginam; Archdeacon, Oko Archdeaconry, Venerable David Okpalaononuju and his wife, Njideka, arrangements have been concluded to make the conference a huge success.
Historically, Christianity came to Oko in 1909, through a church teacher from Ogidi, Mr. Mathias Anwuruebo, who recruited an Oko indigene, Mr. Egbevu Izuako to assist him in spreading the gospel. They paid courtesy calls to the local chieftains, who agreed to give them land for the spread of the gospel.
The first church teacher’s house built in 1912 drew more converts. In 1914, the first batch of eight converts received the sacrament of baptism. The present church building was dedicated by the then Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, Most Reverend Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye. Oko community has produced many priests, including the pioneer Bishop of Asaba Diocese, late Right Reverend Rowland Nwosu, the pioneer Bishop of Ogbaru and now Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor as well as a former Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme. The President General of the Joint Council of Knights in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and President, Aguata Diocesan Council of Knights, Sir Isaiah Eze-ezika is from Oko.
So as the women of Aguata Diocese converge on Oko for the Women’s Conference, government functionaries, including the wife of the state governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Osodieme, female lawmakers, wives of government functionaries and individuals are invited to the event.
Aguata Diocese, Lampada Christi 

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