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READ DR SIJU ILUYOMADE’S SPEECH AT 2020 ARISE WOMEN CONFERENCE
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 unedited Speech of 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 22 nd 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.
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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.
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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.
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(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,
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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
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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.
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Nigerian’s Health Care System needs to
be upgraded. 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
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“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.
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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.
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– 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.
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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:
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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
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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
SIJU ILUYOMADE
ARISE 2020