CWON New National Leadership Unveils Agenda for Women’s Empowerment, Evangelization, and Family Development

By CSN Media

The Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON) has unveiled its agenda for women’s empowerment, evangelization, and family development under its new national leadership. This was made known during a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, on Monday, March 24, 2025.

On the entourage were, the outgoing National President of CWO, Dame Mary Asibi Gonsum, who led the delegation, and the incoming National President, Mrs. Sonubi Elizabeth Olayinka; the 1st Vice President, Mrs. Idam Helen Modu; the General Secretary, Mrs. Sanusi Anthonia Alaba; the Treasurer, Mrs. Obabueki Cletty Eghe; and the outgoing General Secretary, Mrs. Christiana Wakjissa.

The new National President, Hon. (Mrs.) Sonubi, who was introduced by the erstwhile President, Dame Gonsum, pledged to build on the foundations laid by her predecessor, focusing on key areas such as capacity training for women, poverty alleviation and empowerment, evangelization, family well-being, and networking and advocacy.

“We will do our best to be dedicated and accountable,” Mrs. Olayinka said. “Transparency will be our watchword. We pledge to be focused and submissive to the authority of the church and to consolidate on what the former administration built.”

Rev. Fr. Banjo emphasised the importance of CWON’s role in serving the church and the nation, advising the new executives to emphasise teachings on family formation, encourage their members to participate in public offices, and manage conflicts in a Christian way. “Leadership is about service,” he said.

“Your office means a lot to the church,” he said. “You exist not only for your women, but for the church. You must always seek the good of the church, and the good of the church is primarily, seeking the salvation of souls.”

The Secretary General also advised the new executives to emphasise teachings on family formation, encourage their members to participate in public offices, and to manage conflicts in a Christian way.

Additionally, the National Director of Social Communications, CSN, Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, urged the new executives to imbibe the virtues of selflessness, respect for one another, and always putting the church first. He encouraged the new leaders to deploy the digital media in order to enhance communication and information management in their organisation. “If we do these things, a lot of problems in the church will not come up at all,” he advised.

While assuring the women of the communications office’s support and readiness to work fully with them and engage in all their programs, the Communication Director applauded the outgoing president, Dame Mary Asibi-Gonsum, for her effort in leading the women in the last four years successfully, and urged her to give the new executives all the support they need.

The visit ended with a commitment from the CSN to support the new CWO leadership in their endeavors, and a pledge from the CWO to work closely with the CSN to achieve their goals.