A group of Christian women have used multi ethno-cultural aesthetics to underscore the need for continued unity, peace, harmony and progress in the country.

At its August meeting held in Port Harcourt yesterday at the church headquarters, the Women Ministry of Gateway International Church showcased Nigeria’s rich ethno-cultural diversity through various displays, songs, dances, skits, traditional dishes and other cultural presentations.

Representing different states across the country, the women showcased the rich aesthetics, traditions and choreographies of the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Esan, Itsekiri, Fulani, Nupe, Tiv, Ibibio, Ogoni and Kalabari people, among others, to the admiration of guests at the cultural fiesta.

The August meeting, themed “Beauty in Cultural Diversity,” was an initiative designed to enable women from different ethnic groups to reconnect with their cultural roots and experience a sense of home while celebrating the popular women’s August meeting.

The event also featured a cooking competition, with participants showcasing their culinary skills, dances and cultural presentations to highlight the richness of Nigeria’s diverse heritage. The activities further demonstrated that cultural differences can be a source of strength, unity and national cohesion rather than division.

Speaking at the event, the Lead Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunwa, expressed delight at the cultural displays and said ,he would consider incorporating similar activities regularly into the church’s programmes.

Izunwa said the women’s performances demonstrated that Christian worship could accommodate wholesome expressions of culture and celebration, stressing that believers should be able to enjoy life while serving God.

“I am indeed pleased with the display of cultures and dances by the women. I will look for a way to make this a regular part of our church programmes so that everyone can participate and enjoy it.

“A woman danced in the Bible, and her dance had a negative impact on the life of a prophet. When she danced, the king said, ‘Half of my kingdom I will give you. Ask for anything.’ Although she eventually made a foolish request, that girl could have become the second-in-command in that nation simply because of her dance.”

He added that the celebration should also remind the women of the possibilities that could accompany their expressions of faith and joy.

“I want you to know that, as we celebrate Jesus today through dance, whatever you ask, He will give to you.

“I want to thank you for helping to make the church not overly religious. When people come to church, they should enjoy life and enjoy God. God did not save us to punish us. He did not save us to make sure that nothing good enters our mouths.

He saved us to ensure that life is sweet, meaningful and fulfilling for us.”

Earlier in her opening remarks, the President of the Gateway Women Ministry, Dr Meg Lawal, said the festival was designed to celebrate the diversity of cultures while reaffirming the centrality of Christ.

Lawal said the theme, “Beauty in Diversity,” was inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:12, which describes the church as one body with many members, adding that the differences among believers were part of God’s design.

“Today is a celebration of colour, culture, and Christ. Our theme is ‘Beauty in Diversity,’ inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:12: ‘For the body is one, and hath many members… so also is Christ.’

“God made us different on purpose, different tribes, tongues, cultures, and talents, so that together we can reflect His glory. Today, we celebrate our identity in Jesus Christ.

Our culture, dressing, food, and dance tell the story of who we are, but today, we bring all of these expressions under the lordship of Christ.”

She said the programme was also intended to strengthen relationships among the women, stressing that fellowship and mutual encouragement were essential to building a strong Christian community.

“We are also here to build community. This is a time to laugh together, pray together, encourage one another, and strengthen the bonds that unite us. No woman should walk this journey alone.

“Today, we will experience the beauty of diversity in two special ways: dance and food. Dance is a language. Our dancing today will tell the story of our heritage while also becoming an offering of praise to God.”

Lawal also described food as an avenue for fellowship, saying the cooking competition was designed to encourage interaction and appreciation of the different cultures represented at the event, cautioning against division.

“Food is fellowship. Today, we will have a cooking competition where every dish tells a story. As we cook, share, and eat together, we build community.

“But, sisters, let us remember: culture is the vessel, but Christ is the content. Let our competition be in love, not rivalry. We are here to admire, learn, celebrate, and unite, not to divide.”

The Special Guest of Honour and Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, James A. James, commended the women for organising the cultural celebration, expressing his delight to be part of the event.

James, described the programme as a celebration of Nigeria’s cultural diversity and pledged financial support to the participating groups.

“I am indeed delighted to be found among beautiful and gorgeous women in the Women’s Ministry. I am very honoured to be part of this Cultural Day programme.

“It is indeed beauty in cultural diversity, and I want to say, as a son of these beautiful ladies, I want this programme to be bigger. So, as a way of support and appreciation, I will be giving each of the groups a minimum of N100,000.”

Also speaking, Dr Onyeije Ebere Chinecherem, Directorate Head, Community Impact, and Immediate Past President of the Gateway International Church Women Ministry, said the programme was initiated during her tenure to promote inclusion and give women an opportunity to express their cultural heritage.

Chinecherem said the event had evolved into a platform where women could showcase their talents while promoting unity and a sense of belonging within the church.

“We started this programme during my tenure as President, and we realised that it is one of the few programmes where women bring their best in representing the major ethnic groups in the country.

“This programme is a way of giving everyone a sense of belonging in the church. If you look around you, you see the colour and the unity. It brings every woman out to bring in her best. The idea is just to make Christian women have an opportunity to belong, with no unfair competition, but happiness and fun in the presence of God.”

Also speaking, the wife of the Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Lydia Acheroma James, said the cultural celebration had become an annual tradition of the Women Ministry and provided an avenue for the women to showcase Nigeria’s diverse heritage.

She, however, clarified that the cultural presentations did not necessarily represent the ethnic backgrounds of the women participating in each group.

“This has been our tradition in the Women’s Ministry every year, as we celebrate our Cultural Day by showcasing the diverse cultures of different tribes and ethnic groups across Nigeria.

“Again, I want to clarify that the cultures being displayed today do not necessarily represent the tribes or ethnic groups to which the participants belong. Each group picked a tribe through a raffle and represented that culture through its presentation. The various displays today were very exciting, colourful and interesting.”

The National Executive Publicity Secretary of the Gateway International Church Women Ministry, Ann Godwin, said the cultural festival was an initiative of the Women Ministry aimed at showcasing the country’s diverse cultures while reinforcing the message of unity and peace.

Godwin said the event provided a practical demonstration of the church’s commitment to unity, love and appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

She said: “This programme is an initiative of the Women Ministry, and we have come here to showcase our different cultures and tribes. This is to demonstrate that, in any organisation, the message of unity and peace should be preached, and that is what our Father in the Lord, Pastor George Izunnwa has always been preaching.

“Today, we have practically demonstrated that unity and love. You can see that everybody is excited. In a nutshell, at Gateway International Church, we don’t just preach the gospel; we also appreciate our diverse cultures and celebrate our heritage.”

Also, the Programme Coordinator of the Women’s Ministry, Mrs Katherine Andy-Onigbu, said the event was organised to provide the women with an opportunity to relax, have fun and celebrate Nigeria’s cultural diversity.

Andy-Onigbu said the programme was particularly significant amid the pressures and tensions in society, noting that the activities provided an avenue for the women to unwind and express themselves.

“This programme was put together to give women an opportunity to have fun while showcasing the diverse cultures we have in Nigeria.

She stated: “Considering the kind of country we live in today, with so much pressure and tension, I am sure this programme has helped to ease a lot of stress. Many women are happy, dancing and expressing themselves freely.”

She said the programme would continue as part of the Women Ministry’s activities.

“I am sure that when many of them return home, they may not even need to take their blood pressure medication because they have had a good dose of laughter, which is also a great medicine.

“I can assure you that this is a programme that has come to stay, and it will be sustained throughout the year.”

Participants expressed fulfillment, joy on the initiative, saying it made them feel at home and saved the cost of traveling.