Members Voices
Port Harcourt Council’s Church History Fair
The first coordinating councilwide Church History Fair in Africa West Area was held on 16 December 2023 in Port Harcourt. Elder Enefiok Ntem, chairman of Port Harcourt Council of 10 stakes and 2 districts, presided over this special activity of 3,075 people who gathered at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre. Many more participants watched through Facebook streaming. This may be one of the largest face-to-face gatherings of people in a single activity recorded in our entire area. Similar Church history fairs and devotionals, though on smaller scales, have been held across the area in Uyo Ibiono Nigeria Stake, Ghana, Benin Republic and Ivory Coast.
The extensive planning and successful fair could only be possible with a group of Saints who are phenomenally united and whose faith is founded in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Sister Ihesiene and I served in the organizing committee of this fair, we could feel the power of a humble and accessible council chairman, Elder Enefiok Ntem, and the joy of counseling together in love. Every Church department was involved and displayed items at their stands during guided tours by our invitees. The young single adults played the instruments; the different organizations provided choir renditions and cultural displays as well as the “Light the World” segment.
The Nigeria and council history timelines were displayed, pioneers were honored and oral interviews were conducted across every segment of the participants. We had the honor of hosting first-class opinion leaders as the traditional rulers, religious leaders and government functionaries spanning Nigeria’s southern states of Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers. It is true to say that the committees had the Africa West Area goals as templates in ensuring the Area Presidency’s outlook got reflected—from strengthening the rising generation to inter-governmental and religious collaborations. It was a day never to be forgotten as most of the invitees during their goodwill messages wished this to become an annual event with promise that their constituents will attend in larger numbers.
Port Harcourt Council in History
Port Harcourt Council has enviable pioneering and historical significance in so many ways in Nigeria and extending to the area:
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The first stake to be created from a stake division in Nigeria in 1990.
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The first native full time missionary couple, Elder and Sister Okwedy, come from this council.
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Port Harcourt council hosted the first ever visit to Nigeria made by a prophet of the Lord, President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), in 1998.
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This council is the first to hold a coordinating councilwide (10 stakes, 2 districts and a mission) Church history fair.
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First council in recent times to consistently attain 100 percent annual history submissions for three straight years in the Area.
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This council was about the most innovative and proactive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Church History department collects, preserves and shares the stories of the hand of the Lord amongst His people. We collect annual and oral histories, artifacts, digitize personal journals, identify and operate historic sites for the Church. Indeed, we were humbled to see Saints in Port Harcourt Council gather to confess what the almighty hand of the Lord has done from 1990, when the first stake in this council was created, till now. “And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?” (3 Nephi 23:11).
We solemnly testify that everyone was ministered to during this special and historic Church history event in Port Harcourt. In verse 13, the Saviour insisted: “And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded” (3 Nephi 23:13). And now, it has been written.