Date: 2017-06-12

Twenty-one distinguished personalities on Sunday received merit awards from the 2nd ECWA Church, Agamo, Omu-Aran in Kwara, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Each of the awardees, including 14 that were posthumously honoured, received plaques at a ceremony to mark the Church's annual Virtuous Women Service of Song in Omu-Aran.

The occasion also witnessed the inauguration of new patron and matron for the women choir.

Elder Segun Bamidele, the Church Secretary, said the awardees were honoured for their spiritual devotion as well as immense contribution to the growth, progress and development of the church.

According to him, the award was instituted to recognised diligence, merit, service to humanity as well commitment to the service of God.

Some of the awardees includes Rev. Samuel Alayande, Mr S.B. Ogunmola, Chief D.A. Onijala and Mrs Rachael Jolayemi among others.

"No service will go unrecognised and unrewarded even in spite of the fact that God has promised eternal and everlasting reward for being righteous.

"It is our hope and belief that the awards will spur others to emulate the exemplary deeds of the awardees toward the service of their creator," he said.

Rev. Adefikayo Owolabi, the Church's Pastor, in a sermon, pointed out that no deed, either good or bad, would go unrewarded by God.

"That is why we should be mindful of our dealings and activities at every point in time because we don't know when and how death might occur.

"Every Christian, be it politicians, banker, administrator, rich or poor, high or low, should be mindful of God's commandment and should seek the desired salvation," he said.

Elder Jacob Onipede, the newly inaugurated Choir Patron, expressed the need for devoted Christians to imbibe honesty, diligence, for them to be righteous in attracting God's favour and blessings.

Mrs Alice Adebayo, the Chairperson of the occasion, urged women to be alive to their motherly responsibility both at home and in their contribution to the service of God.

Adebayo, wife of Chief Jide Adebayo, a former NAN executive Director, said as mothers of the nation it was the responsibility of women to seek divine intervention for solutions to nation's numerous challenges.

"As mothers of the nation, we should not relent in offering prayers for our religious leaders and those at the nation's helms of affairs," she added.

(NAN)