Emmanuel Abodunrin
The Founder and General Overseer of the Love of Christ (LOC) Generation Church, London, the United Kingdom, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, under the auspices of her Esther Ajayi Foundation, hosted a group of distinguished personalities and leaders of the white garment churches at the Delegates Dinning Room of the United Nations Headquarters, New York.
The event was a celebration and dedication of the International Decade For People Of African Descent, and the United Nations Initiative On the Eradication Of Poverty.
The event, organised by the Esther Ajayi Foundation in partnership with the White Garment Churches and the Moses Orimolade University, had in attendance leaders and members of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church and Celestial Church of Christ drawn from Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the US.
In her welcome remarks, Rev. Mother Ajayi, who was introduced by the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Bashorun Dele Momodu, explained that the event was hosted to achieve recognition, justice and development for the people of African descent in Africa and around the world.
The engagement with stakeholders at the UN, she explained, was also aimed to accelerate global strategies and actions to eradicate poverty, achieve peace and social justice for people of all faith and ethnic nationalities around the world.
She said, “My life experiences led me to found the Esther Ajayi Foundation. At some point in my life, I became homeless in the UK and my husband was admitted in the hospital. So, I discovered that anybody in the world can also be in such a situation. This led to the establishment of the Esther Ajayi Foundation.”
According to Ajayi, who is fondly called Iya Adura, the foundation tackle homelessness and health challenges, among others.
Earlier, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, His Excellency Tijani Bande, had lauded Rev. Mother Ajayi’s tremendous philanthropic exploits and urged her to continue to spread love and joy across the world.
One of the highest points of the event was a powerful networking session between the Esther Ajayi Foundation and other global development stakeholders such as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Madagascar, Jean Max Rakotomamonjy; Founder, MERCLE and CIPAC, Dr Richard Hellman; Dr Alberto Zucconi of the World University Consortium, a former Mayor of Julis/Founder, OHR Druze Committee for the Culture of Peace, Dr Nadeem Amar; Representative of the UN Youth Programme, Eden Stein; Director, Seize the Nations for Jesus Christ, Else Cuchet; Founder and President of LBS Global for Sustainable Development Goals in Developing Countries; Lazaro Burak Sasson; Chairman, Proposed Moses Orimolade University, Prof. S.A. Saani, among other delegates.
Commenting further on the goals of the foundation, Rev. Mother Ajayi said that in partnership with the White Garment Churches and Moses Orimolade University, the foundation aimed to eradicate ignorance from Africa with quality and affordable education.
She said, “Knowledge is priceless and knowledge is power. If you are knowledgable about anything and any field of life, your confidence is so high that nobody can take that away from you.”
She added that in line the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the Esther Ajayi Foundation aimed to eradicate poverty from all over the world, work to actualise zero hunger by providing food for the world at large, and promote gender equality.
Other goals include providing clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, as well as promoting peace, justice and strong institution.
“We want to be in partnership with the United Nations in order to achieve these goals and make them come to reality. We are here to form a partnership and additional networking with the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and other institutions to achieve our goals,” she stated.
According to her, the greatest gift of mankind is the gift of giving.
“I celebrate giving and giving is not about the people but about you. There is power in giving and power in love,” she added.
Commenting on the August visitors at the UN, the Diplomatic Adviser to the UN/President, World Association of NGOs, Dr Tagledin Hamad, was quoted as saying, “27 years in the United Nations, I have never seen a gathering this unique. Definitely sent by Heaven, looking pure in a white garment. In tune with Goals 17 of the United Nations work in partnership especially with spiritual and religious leaders to heal and make peace because this is what the UN is all about, peace.”
The Chairman of Moses Orimolade University Planning and Implementation Committee, Prof. Sanni, stated that history was being made with the hosting of the historic event at the United Nations Headquarters.
He said the motive behind the establishment of the university owned by the Cherubim & Seraphim Church was to train human capital development to enhance poverty alleviation.
He rounded off his speech by appreciating the contribution of Rev. Mother Ajayi through the Esther Ajayi Foundation with the contribution of $2m and the promise to add an addition $28m to the institution in future.
Ably represented were the Supreme Head of the C&S Unification Church, His Most Eminence Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Adegboyega Alao; and Rev. Pastor Emmanuel Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa, the Pastor/Spiritual Head, CCC Worldwide.
Other spiritual leaders present at the event include His Eminence Michael Ebahor , His Eminence Segun Ajayi, His Eminence Joseph Ibikunle, Cardinal James Odunmbakun, and Pastor Isreal Oladele Ogundipe, among others.
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