As the 2023 Regional Convention commences on Friday, no fewer than 20,000 delegates of Jehovah’s Witnesses will gather in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The delegates, drawn from Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Osun states, will gather at Ifatumo Hall for the Regional Convention, titled ‘’Exercise Patience’’.
The in-person convention, which will start on Friday, is coming after a three-year pause since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Some 6,000 conventions will be held worldwide as part of the 2023 Convention.
In Nigeria alone, more than 320 conventions will be held in 39 host cities, out of which 11 conventions will be held in Ibadan City.
the Regional Spokesman of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gill Adekannbi, stated these in a press release made available in Ibadan, today.
He described the Convention as one of the largest convention gatherings in the world.
Adekannbi said Witnesses and other members of the extended community will meet for interchange of encouragement and spiritual instructions to explore the quality of patience and related acts of Godly devotion.
The regional spokesman noted that, in 2020, the pandemic interrupted the tradition of gathering in large numbers in Ibadan.
He said the Witnesses then cancelled their in-person events throughout the world and held their convention programmes as virtual events in more than 500 languages.
He explained that, after resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the mid-period of 2023 marked the first time they will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
“Beginning 15 September, 2023, the Witnesses will bring that tradition back to Ibadan.
“As much as we loved the convenience and quality of our virtual conventions, nothing can replace being together in a large group setting.
“While our online conventions reached millions around the world and kept our communities safe, we long to get back to our joyful fellowship at these large gatherings,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of this convention, Adekannbi emphasised: “Patience is a beautiful quality that all Christians desire to display in their daily lives.
“Despite our good intentions, however, maintaining patience in the face of life’s many challenges can be a daily struggle.
“Spending three days exploring aspects of this quality will be very timely for all of us.
“From Friday through Sunday, six convention sessions will explore the quality of patience, highlighting its modern-day relevance through scriptural examples.
“A live baptism will be performed following the Saturday morning session and a pre-recorded drama will be featured in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.”
According to him, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years.
The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken, the Jehovah’s Witnesses regional spokesman added.
