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In The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church
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Nat. Pres. Sup Apos. Mother BOLAJOKO ODEINDE
Superintendent Apostolic Mother Bolajoko Odeinde is the National President of Good Women Congress of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria. The group is very popular as all women in the C&S Church pride to be members. The group is saddled with the task of grooming women in the church, making them relevant in the society. In an interview with City People Reporter, JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886), Mrs. Odeinde talked about the many impact the Good Women Congress has on the church and what she and her team are doing to cater to the welfare of their members. Below are excerpts:
Can you tell us briefly about your group and what they do in C&S Church?
The Good Women Congress stands for change in the society, especially the young ones coming behind. We do this by training them, equipping them to stand firm in the future; to take care of their homes, their children and husbands as a whole.
For how long has the group been in existence?
I want to say the Good Women Congress has been in existence, as far as the Unification Church of Nigeria has been in existence. It’s just a forum for the women to associate with one another, to move the church forward.
When did you become President of the group?
Yes, I came in 2021, as the second National President of the CNS Unification Church of Nigeria. And this is my second tenure. There was another election last year which gave me the opportunity to run for the second tenure as well.
So how would you describe the task of running the affairs of the women in the church?
Anyone that can handle a woman can rule a nation. It is not an easy task. When you talk about national, it’s not the state this time.
You are talking of the whole Nigeria, moving from one state to the other, and seeing to the welfare of the women around it. So it’s not an easy task at all.
How have you been coping?
God has been my strength. It has not been easy, but with Him on my side, it has been so wonderful and marvellous.
What are those things you have done to improve the welfare of the women of the church?
God has been so wonderful, especially to women. I want to give all thanks to God, to Mother Abimbola Ajayi for the empowerment centre. The empowerment centre came into existence in 2021 for the women, it’s built on the Seraphim land at Maba. So, from 2021, we’ve been having different programmes, trainings for young women and even the old women as well. Like some months ago, we held trainings for grandmas. With the economic situation of the country, you don’t expect your children to cater for all your needs. Whatever you can do to assist the children as well, you should also contribute. So there are a few trainings you can go into that can fetch you money. And we’ve been running that series of empowerment programmes since the existence of that training centre. And that’s about the empowerment centre. We do have seminars from time to time, from state to state, from churche to churche. And equally we have revivals there. This year’s convention will be coming up in October and it would hold from 10 to 12. That will be in the second week in October. It’s going to take place in Ekiti; Ado Ekiti to be precise. And we expect our women from all over Nigeria and abroad to stand in.
And in the future, we are holding an interactive session for women to interact, to share their views, challenges in different states and see now we can overcome the challenges. It has been like that. It has been so wonderful.
What are the programmes you have for the rest of the year?
We have a lot of plans. Like, we have the centenary celebration of the church. We are looking forward to this historic event. We have a lot of activities slated for the ceremony as women of the church. So we women have our own plans as well, trying to come into whatever plans they have for the church. We are planning ahead to have seminars, interstate revival. We have interstate seminars as well. We have a lot of programs outlined for the occasion. And I pray with God on our side we’ll excel.
Can you put a figure to the total number of women in your group?
The population of women to men, you can say 90 to 10. So, for you now to ask me the number of women, I can’t say precisely.
What are the unique roles your group plays in the church?
Within the church, I want to say, when you train a woman, you train a whole nation. So, what you put on as a woman makes you unique to the church. Women are better evangelists, which we have been. We have been and have changed the church in so many ways; trying to control the mode of dressing of our girls. Especially on that, I can say, since I came on board, I’ve been able to arrest that. The situation where you put on garment that reveals everything under your garment. If you go to our C&S Unification churches, you hardly find such things again. So, I want to say it’s one of the main things I have done since I came here.
Who is Superintendent Apostolic Mother Bolajoko Odeinde ? Can you share a bit of your background and profile with me?
Bolajoko Talabi Odeinde was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Talabi of Ijebu-Mushin. I was born in Port Harcourt, precisely.
But during the war, that was 1966, I was brought back to Lagos. After the war, 1969, I went back to Port Harcourt, where I started my elementary education. 1974, I was back in Lagos, where I continued my secondary school. After my secondary school, I attempted JAMB. Because my father was a director with Central Bank. So, I was eyeing to work in the banking industry. So, after attempting JAMB for about two years, I did not get it. I insisted I wanted to work in a bank. So, in 1984, I entered into the banking industry. I had my CIB exams, like that. In 1997, I was transferred outside Lagos. But for my children, it’s either the job or the home. So, I picked my home and withdrew into business. That is Bolajoko. And then, I started my evangelism career. I majored in counselling the younger ones, training them for their homes; to become better wives to their husbands. Doing this, I’ve organized so many seminars, just to educate the younger ones.
Where you a Seraph from birth?
No, I was not a seraph right from birth.
At what time did you become a member of C&S Church?
Wow, this is a big question. I joined the C&S in 1980. Normally, there’s no time I don’t fall sick. So, they said I was an ‘Ogbanje’ or something. But in 1980, I personally walked into the C&S church. There was a revival going on. So, I walked in myself. And the prophet just came out and said, who owns this lady? But, fortunately for me, I don’t even know anybody in that church that knows me. So, a woman came out and said, yeah, she’s my daughter. There were series of messages that came. The woman wrote down the message, which I dropped at home when I got home. Then I started attending their service. I was born into an Anglican home. But, my father and mother never disturbed me. Since I entered that church, the sickness vanished. Like, I don’t know how it happened. But, since then, I’ve been hale and hearty. So, nobody disturbed me. I’ve been in the C&S for close to 45 years now. I’ve really enjoyed Christ fully.
Knowing Christ has been wonderful. And I want to say to people, white garment is never a fetish church. People see us as being fetish. I don’t see anything. I belong to the sacred C&S church and the only thing we use is our anointing water and oil. And God performs His miracles.
Are you a Shepard in the church or do you have a Parish you run?
I’m not a shepherd. I’m just Bolajoko one of the congregation, a worshipper in the C&S church. I don’t own a church.
What message do you have for women out there?
I want to urge women entirely that we should just rise up to our responsibility. The time we are in right now is not smiling at all. And for us, we to be good mothers to our children we must be contented with whatever you have. Manage your resources and move closer to God. That is just it.
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