The 2020 Arise Women Conference was held over the weekend at the Astro Turf Playing ground of City of David, Redeem Christian Church of God, Oniru, Victoria Island, it was also televised live by Channels tv.
The event which was basically to sensitize women in the society as well as empower individuals, witnessed lot of prominent Nigerians. Here is the speech made by the convener, Dr Siju Iluyomade.
If ever, I am happy to welcome you to ARISE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE; it is without a doubt this year’s conference 2020, with the theme DEEPLY ROOTED #STAYING ALIVE.
This year 2020 has been most unusual, challenging and stormy. Darkness, death, sickness swept across the whole world like a science fiction movie.
The statistics are mind-boggling.
As at the 22nd of October, 2020, an estimated 41.3 million people had been infected with a lethal virus called COVID-19, killing 1.13 million people in the world. It appeared suddenly, carrying with it utter destruction and chaos.

The theme of this year’s conference is so apt, only those who were DEEPLY ROOTED stood a chance to STAY ALIVE.
There was a clarion call on individual and collective roots, i.e. spiritual, physical, mental, medical, financial. We faced the DARKEST DAYS AND DARKEST NIGHTS. SUDDENLY THE WHOLE WORLD WAS DARK AND SCARY.
Every resources and resolve we had, was challenged, our very roots were challenged. We were called out to confront darkness with COURAGE. COURAGE is the ability to fight or do something that frightens our bravery.
Courage is strength in the face of pain and grief. Today at ARISE 2020, we salute and celebrate courage. We applaud our Doctors, Nurses, Technicians; all health workers and front liners, you WORE SHEER COURAGE, AND YOU SHONE. I salute and applaud the people who stood in the place of prayer day and night, pleading our cause before the ALMIGHTY GOD whose we all are, and who sustains us by His spoken word.
TODAY, WE SAY ‘THANK YOU’ to all those for fought that others may stay alive. COVID-19 taught us and should teach our Nation Nigeria everyday courage.
(a) Moral Courage, (b) Intellectual Courage, (c) Disciplined Courage and Empathetic Courage. Using these tools, we would develop courage in our convictions to develop our Nation Nigeria and our world at large.
Simply put, courage was the singularly most important virtue of keeping us DEEPLY ROOTED. To confront darkness, despair, horror, shame, sorrow, pains and fears. We NEEDED TO STAY ALIVE.
ARISE has for the past 12 years moved and worked with COURAGE OF CONVICTION. We have a clear understanding of love towards all without discrimination. Whatsoever, devoid of Religion, Social-economic, strata, gender and such like.
For us, as ARISE WOMEN, we stand at the forefront of delivering on the 17 sustainable Development Goals. THESE GOALS ARE A WAKEUP CALL – A CALL TO ACTION. It involves a global partnership with many sectors. The quest to end poverty and other deprivations demands strategic planning and impact from various other sectors.
There is an urgent need to improve healthcare delivery, education, infrastructural developments, unemployment, gender inequality to spur economic growth, most especially amongst women.
In life, there is interconnectivity, Good Health and Wellbeing are intertwined with economic prosperity; so also does education impact on every sphere of life. Poor education has been linked to a lot of social malaise. It widens the gap of inequality. ARISE STRONGLY ADVOCATES that all children, no matter who they are, must have the right to quality education.
Listen, 20% of the worlds out of school children can be found in Nigeria. These figure is staggering 10.5 million Nigerian children between ages 5-14 are out of school.
Also, when we look at the Health Sector, thousands, millions die yearly of non-communicable, treatable conditions including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, lack of immunization, malaria, cancer, diabetes.
We boast of the brightest minds in Health Care, but where are the facilities. Why was the world not invited to understudy our management of COVID-19 to boost our Health Care Sector?
The United Nation has advocated a minimum of 1 Doctor per 1,000 people. How close are we in Nigeria as a nation to this? Presently we have 10,000 people to 3.8 Doctors or better still 0.38 Doctors to 1,000 persons. It is time to articulate the vision for our Nation.
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3
“Write the vision make it plain upon tables that he may RUN THAT READETH IT.”
Ephesians 5: 15-16
Vision says “See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil.”
The UNITED NATIONS BY THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS MADE THE VISION PLAIN AND GOT IT DOMESTICATED IN MANY COUNTRIES.
IT IS CALLED VISION 2030. AS ARISE WOMEN, WE HAVE MADE OUR VISION PLAIN, WE READ IT, AND WE ARE RUNNING WITH IT.
IT IS TIME FOR NIGERIA OUR MOTHERLAND TO MAKE THE VISION PLAIN AND RUN WITH IT – THAT WE AS A PEOPLE MAY BE DEEPLY ROOTED AND STAY ALIVE.
Take a deeper look at Vision:
– Vision is the window of the heart.
– Vision requires faith foresight and oversight.
– Vision is a Mission.
– Vision is needed to be Administered.
– Vision requires goals, just as roots are broken into smaller roots. So also must vision be broken down into smaller goals; to achievable, sustainable developments.
– Vision is the Law that Governs us.
– Vision keep us in line, taking a cue from the ant colony, it does not destroy what it seeks to Build.
– Vision Reveals our destination.
– Vision is the lens that interprets the events of Life. The way we view people, our concept of God in all our affairs.
Question – ARE WE OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS KEEPERS?
– VISION IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
– Vision is not afraid of Momentary discomfort; it does not take the easy road.
– Vision entails great sacrifice.
– Vision keeps us restrained to avoid future discomfort.
– Vision expects and Embraces Trials.
At this year ARISE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE. We collectively refuse as a people to be destitute of VISION OR FORESIGHT.
We need to propel our country in the right direction, making use of the opportunity of both our TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS.
SHE OR HE WHO SEES FARTHEST SEES – BEST.
At this Conference Deeply Rooted, WE MUST REALIZE TIME IS PRECIOUS, AND WE MUST MAKE GOOD USE OF IT.
Suddenly we move from child to youth to middle age to elderly which bracket are you.
Remember each bracket has its good, bad and ugly. At this conference, we will force our country Nigeria to set priorities, have a sense of direction and embrace:
Deep Thinking
Deep Learning
Deep Mourning
Deep Rejoicing
DEEPLY ROOTED CALLS TO THE FACULTY OF FORESIGHT improving each passing day, imploring divine favour, holding on to responsibility and responsiveness.
3 John 1:2
“Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in Health even as thy Soul prospereth.”
To be deeply rooted is:
TO BE FOREWARNED
TO BE FOREARMED
We will by God’s grace leave this UNUSUAL, AMAZING, ARISE 2020 WOMENS CONFERENCE WITH A VISION. REMEMBER – A man without a vision is a man without a future. He will always return to his past.
ARISE BE DEEPLY ROOTED ARISE # STAYING ALIVE ARISE WRITE THE VISION ARISE READ AND KEEP THE VISION ARISE RUN WITH IT.
GOD BLESS US ALL