The Nigeria Conference of Women Religious (NCWR) is a religious initiative set apart for all women Religious in Nigeria to come together as one body serving the Church. NCWR Provincial Week is therefore a special week which every Religious ever looks forward to participating every year, because it is all enriching. This annual event is meant to renew and strengthen their witnessing together as one large family irrespective of the various congregations that exist. It is an initiative established to foster and promote unity for love and service in the Church of Nigeria. NCWR Provincial Week takes into account, activities that revive the zeal to religious commitment. It nourishes the women Religious physically, socially, spiritually, morally and mentally for the service ahead. Equally, to all Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Nigeria, it is a special time which they avail themselves the opportunity to foster union with their collaborators both within and without their dioceses of service.
This year’s Provincial week for Ibadan Province took place from 4th to 7th June 2026 at Pope John Paul II Pastoral Centre, Ado-Ekiti. The programme hosted a great number of Women religious across the six dioceses of the province namely, Ibadan Arch-diocese, Ekiti, Ilorin, Ondo, Osogbo and Oyo dioceses.
On the arrival day, the host bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti welcomed all the women Religious from the six dioceses. He recommended their effort in their witnessing through the charism, spirituality and values of their various Religious institutes. He prayed God to bless and keep them safe from evil during their week’s events and beyond. Other dignitaries also gave their speeches. The Provincial Counsellor of the NCWR Ibadan Province in the person of Sr Cynthia Azughara DHS – Vice-Provincial Superior of Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Nigeria, welcomed and congratulated the NCWR Ibadan province with her speech titled ‘’Let us lead by Example’’. She reminded the whole Congregation of women Religious the following: ‘’Let us remember that we are women whose lives bear witness to faith and service. Our Leadership is not measured by titles or academic degrees, but in the quiet endurance of prayer. Above all, we must be prayerful, and allow God to bring the best out of our celebration’’
The following events were featured during the NCWR week on Friday 5th June:
* Prayers and Holy Masses
* Facilitation on ‘’Leadership and Sustainability in Consecrated Life’’
* Talk on ‘’Balancing Well-Being and Apostolic Responsibility at Mid-Life’’
* Empowering Religious Women through Holistic Wellbeing for Fruitful Mission. Etc.
On Saturday, 6th June, the activities included the following field events for all NCWR Areas: Match Past, 100 Metres Race, Egg and Spoon Race, Fill-in the Bottle/Basket Race, Relay Race, Sack Race and Football Match.
Saturday witnessed the climax of the whole celebration where the sisters from various areas exhibited their talents, skills and potential. It was all fun, yet so beautiful! so exciting! and energy thriving! It was indeed an amazing experience watching the women religious in the field of the above-mentioned events displaying their sills, rejoicing, exercising their body and feeling at home. The joy expressed knew no bounds, it was excellently expressed in such a way that every group appeared to be the winning-team. At the end of the field events, awards and certificates of participation were issued to every group. Dancing, jumping and expression of excitement went on till the evening. The evening event also added another unique colour to the week. As different groups showed their cultural displays. There was also fashion parade by each Area. Dramas and dance drama were also parts of the celebration and were very entertaining.
The celebration was rounded off on Sunday, 7th June 2026, with a closing Mass by the Vicar for Religious, Ekiti Diocese. Rev. Fr Francis Ofoegbu CMF. Being the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Celebrant in his sermon emphasized on the place of the Holy Eucharist in the life of Catholic Christians and in particular the Religious. He encouraged the whole assembly of Religious to give more regards and reverence to the Holy Eucharist, both during and outside the Mass. He encouraged all participants to intensify their closeness with Jesus in this Most Holy Sacrament since He is our life, our source of strength and vigour in our daily lives.
After the Mass the President of NCWR Ibadan Province, Sr Felicia Adedoyin Adeola SSMA thanked all the sisters who took active participation during the week. She also appreciated the effort and support of the bishops of the six dioceses in the Province, the NCWR presidents in the Six Areas and the Provincial Counsellor for their encouragement and assistance. The new set of officers were also inaugurated to take the mantle of leadership onward for the next two years.
The Provincial week 2026 was finally declared closed by the outgone president, Sr Felicia Adedoyin Adeola SSMA.
Sister Patience Effiong, FSE. Published on 19 June 2026
