By Nsikak Okon
The 48th annual national conference of the Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF) and the 26th anniversary of the Africa Vision Tract House Society (AVTHS) have been concluded, with the election of Ashong Clifford Ashong, an erudite professor of development communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, as new National President of NCGF.
Held from 23rd to 27th August 2023 at Panyu Hotel and Resorts, Aba, Abia State, with the theme, ’Be Ye Transformed’, taken from Romans 12:1–3 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Conference had Prof (Mrs) Nnenna Nnannya Oti – Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Prof. Emmanuel Victor Osodeke – National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities; as keynote speakers.
Some of the Conference Speakers included Dr Benjamin Dike, Apostle David Onuoha, Dr Steve Ogan, Venerable Prof. Christian Nzontta, and Barr (Mrs) Oghenemase Adebayo.
In his welcome address, the National President, Prof. Chucks Ebuka, said the conference came at a time of great and unprecedented social travails in the country where massive corruption and looting are prevalent in the land, in addition to “banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killing, yahoo yahoo trend, tribalism, impunity and arrogance of the political class, unknown gunmen killing and maiming people”.
Ebuka expressed optimism that new leaders who would transform the nation into one that is named after God, would emerge from the Conference.
The high point of the conference was the election of new national executive committee to manage the affairs of the Body for the next three years.
Other members of the newly elected NEC are: Deacon David Diekedie – National Vice President; Prof. Imaobong Williams – National Treasurer; Mr Andrew Tongbe – National Financial Secretary; Pastor Sodan Abraham – National Prayer Secretary; Mr Etimbuk Ekpenyong – National Publicity Secretary; and Barrister Noel Ighota – National Youth Coordinator.
The conference had sessions of praise and worship, word ministration, prayer, symposium, bible study, ICT training, and holy Communion.
In her annual report, the AVTHS arm of the Fellowship undertook the following medical missions within the period under review: Owode-Ajegunle Medical Mission on November 19, 2022; Isemi Ile and Imia Medical Mission in Kajola LGA of Ogun State, from 27th – 30th November 2022; Aba Medical Mission in partnership with Association for Peace and Development Initiatives (APDI) from March 28th to April 1st, 2023; and Emede Medical Mission in Isoko South LGA of Delta State from 21st to 26th May, 2023.
Activities during the medical missions covered free laboratory tests, free surgeries, free eyeglasses, free drugs, counseling, distribution of Bibles and gospel tracts, prayer and deliverance services, among others.
Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship has been extending free medical services to some West African nations such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, South Sudan and Gambia.
The Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship started in 1975 but was incorporated in 1984. Before then, there were city Graduate Fellowships formed to cater for the spiritual welfare of young christian graduates coming out of Nigeria Higher Institutions, not fitting into the traditional churches with their learning and exposure, and wanting a forum to use in contributing to nation building.
Thus, in 1975 at the University of Ife – Osun State, these city Graduate Fellowships came together to form a National Fellowship. The Fellowship has Chapters across the country. Her zonal structures house five Zones on regional basis namely: Aba Zone – South-East, Bauchi Zone – North, Benin Zone – Old Mid-West, Lagos/Ife Zone – West, and Uyo Zone – South-South
With the motto, ‘Saved to serve’, NCGF is a trans-denominational, faith-based organization; with christians intellectualy equipped to positively impact Nigeria and the world at large.
Called to love and serve the Lord in spirit and in truth with their resources – time, talent and substances; their mandate includes to train and empower members spiritually, economically and socially; in order to provide sound and enlightened leadership in the church and larger society.
