Women Fellowship

Research shows that around 1930, a woman in Jebbu-Miango in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria had great difficulty in child birth and almost lost her life. There was no medical facility in Miango at that time, only about 20 kilometers away in Vom. The woman’s sister, whose name was Daho saw how tragic it was for her sister, she then suggested to Christian women of SIM (now ECWA) in Miango to contribute money to buy a bicycle. The bicycle was to be used in helping women get to Vom when faced with similar cases in the future. While they were considering this idea, an SIM missionary named Miss E. Varley, saw the importance of what they were doing and encouraged it more among women. That was the genesis of the Women Fellowship.

Missionaries from different mission stations saw how useful this kind of fellowship was to Christian women elsewhere, they too got involved. At first, missionaries held the leadership of the Women Fellowship. The first leader was Miss E. Varley, who lived in Miango. She was succeeded by Mrs. W. Magil (Gimbiya).

Subsequently, the Women Fellowship started growing in several locations. In April 1943, the Fellowship was formed at the National level. From that time, it has grown and expanded with women becoming more zealous in the service of the Lord. In 1953, ten years after the Women Fellowship was formed, the first joint Conference was held at Samaru Kataf in Zonkwa, Kaduna State Nigeria. The Conference was great because women came from all over including Evangelist Dangwaram from Tangale-Waja, North-Eastern Nigeria (now Gombe State) who came to the Conference along with the women from his region on foot. His Royal Highness the Chief of Kagoro, Gwamna Awan was also at the conference. A woman came from a French country; seeing a crowd of Christian women encouraged her. With tears, she said “I never knew there were this many women in the world who follow Jesus.” There were about 400 women at the Conference from 45 towns.
Rhoda Habila gave the sermon during the Conference. She preached from Philippians 3:10.The theme was: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection.” The Holy Spirit touched the women who attended leading to spiritual transformation.
It was at that Conference that Mama Tuman Nkut, a woman from Kagoro, Kaduna State Nigeria, was chosen to be the first Nigerian leader of the Women Fellowship. On handing over the leadership, the missionary leader, Mrs. W. Magil, strongly counseled the women to continue with diligence. She encouraged them to be actively involved in evangelism while continuing to help the needy.
Conferences continued to be held every year up to 1957. At every Conference the attendance reached 1000 or more women. Conferences were held in Kaltungo, North-Eastern region of Nigeria (now Gombe State), in 1954, and Dikko, North-Central Nigeria (now Niger State) in 1955. ECWA was officially registered as an indigenous Church in 1956. At that time the Women Fellowship officially became the ECWA Women Fellowship. In the same year, Kwoi, North-Western Nigeria (now Kaduna State) hosted the ECWA Women Fellowship Conference and Kano, North-Western Nigeria in 1957.
It was at the Conference in Dikko that Rhoda Habila was elected the first Secretary. Jummai Ali Lubo became the first Treasurer. Later Saraya Yabo carried on with work of the Assistant Leader and Ladi Zambuk took over the work of the Secretary while Uhwe Agara became the Treasurer.
At the Kano Conference, it was decided that the Conference be divided based on the seven ECWA District Church Councils namely: Kano-Katsina, Bauchi-Borno, Gwari, Zaria-Plateau, Tangale-Waja, Nupe and Yoruba. From that time, each District chose their own leadership. Currently there are 93 District Church Councils in ECWA and each District has a viable Women Fellowship organ. In March/April of every year, delegates from all the Districts come together for Annual General Meeting at the ECWA Headquarters, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.