Women in Christ Holds Inaugural Meeting, Sets Agenda for Greater Female Participation in Politics

Women in Christ Holds Inaugural Meeting, Sets Agenda for Greater Female Participation in Politics

Habiba Sam

Pastor Aburime Walter Courage Iziegbe, Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on “Women in Christ,” convened the group’s first meeting, framing it as the start of a deliberate movement to empower Christian women for active roles in politics and governance.

Addressing the gathering, Pastor Aburime said the group would focus on encouraging and supporting women  in politics while also rallying behind Governor Okpebholo, who she said shares President Tinubu’s commitment to including more women in leadership.

“We are going to be encouraging and supporting our women in politics,” she told the attendees. “We are going to be supporting our governor, who has the women’s interests at heart, just like our president.”

She urged members to make the vision part of daily life—talking about it with others, keeping it in mind at work, in prayer, and in quiet moments—so that opportunities to advance it arise naturally.

Outlining the group’s objectives, Pastor Aburime said _Women in Christ_ exists to empower, mobilize, sensitize, and equip Christian women for active participation in politics and governance.

She cautioned women against criticizing one another in the political space, saying the group’s role is to lift up those interested in politics, help them gain ground, and mentor younger women who will take the baton in the future.

“Our coming together is to help ourselves enter a field that is not only meant for men,” she said. “With the knowledge of God you have, we can do better than those out there because we know Christ as our leader, in whom we can take direction without fear or favour.”

The adviser added that Women in Christ aims to build a community of leaders rooted in Christian values, while sustaining continuous prayers for those in authority especially in Edo State so the collective good can be advanced.

Looking ahead, she expressed confidence that the effort would produce more women as local government chairmen, councillors, senators, and members of the House of Representatives.

According to Pastor Aburime, the group’s expectations include:

*Increasing awareness of women’s participation in politics  

*Structuring a leadership team with a clear vision and mission  

* Running an effective mentorship and discipleship program  

* Strengthening collaboration between Women in Christ and community leaders  

* Boosting voter turnout and ensuring the group’s impact in politics is measurable

The inaugural meeting brought together a wide cross-section of Christian women leaders, including the SA to Governor Okpebholo on Religious Matters, Apostle Faraday Azekhumen; CAN Edo State Chairperson, Most Snr. Mother in Israel Evangelist Mrs. Eunice Ojezua; CAN Edo Secretary, Rev. Mrs. Patience Ojuh; Bishop Patience Aiguobasimwin of Christ Apostolic Church; Rev. Mrs. Blessing Phil Anogie of Dayspring Gospel Centre; and Pastor Mrs. Okpekpe of the Gospel Ministers’ Wives Association, among others.