How I want to be remembered, by Archbishop Benson Margaret Benson-Idahosa

By KATE HALIM

In her 60s, her beauty still radiates. A woman of style and poise, delectable Archbishop Margaret Benson- Idahosa needs no introduction. Blessed with a strong personality, Idahosa is tenacious in pursuit of whatever she desires.
Mama, as her church members fondly call her spoke to Daily Sun at the reception party held in her honor recently in Lagos. Holding forth gracefully at the Church of God Mission International, since the demise of her husband, a feat she attributed to divine favour, Idahosa wants to be remembered for mentoring and showing love to the less-privileged.

Speaking on her recent elevation as the Archbishop, Church of God Mission International, the trained educationist who also established the Word of Faith Group of Schools, confesses that she is happy to be accorded the honor. However, she was quick to add that it was a huge responsibility because her duties are now extended to other denominations. She also considers her elevation as opening doors for women to aspire to any height in life. By extending the love of Christ to everyone around her, she hopes to bring succour to an agonizing world. According to her, everyone responds to love, even animals.

Archbishop Idahosa is of a royal lineage of the ancient Benin Kingdom. She served as pastor alongside late husband in Church of God Mission International for many years before she was consecrated a Bishop in 1998. She tells you that her staying power 12 years after her husband’s demise is by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“The Holy Spirit has sustained me through the pains of widowhood and has given me the grace and wisdom to run the church in my husband’s absence. I rely on God totally and I am holding on to Him tenaciously. As long as I hold on to him, He is the one who gives me the power to live day to day. I believe His shoulders are wide enough for me to lean on and if I want to cry, I cry to Him because He has solutions to all my problems.” She also informs that the challenges of running the ministry are several but God has been faithful to see her through the years.

When prompted whether she has successfully carried on with the ministry the way her late husband would have done, she shrugged and replied, “No, I would not say so because I don’t know what he had in mind before his demise. But with what I have seen, I believe I have done my best to expand and move the ministry forward in his absence. It may not be as fast as it would have been if he were here, but I have contributed my quota to the best of my capacity to affect my generation positively. He was a man and I am a woman, the time- frame may not be the same but the results are encouraging.”
Meanwhile, the President-General of Christian Women Fellowship International (CWFI), a non-denominational body committed to teaching women how to discover their potentials, commented on the incessant religious crisis plaguing the nation and pointed out that only the love of Christ can change the situation. She admonished Christians in show love to all men, Christians, Muslims and pagans alike. That, she believes, would go a long way in preventing violence and intolerance in the country and make it a better place for all.

As the first female Chancellor in Africa, as Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, she spoke on calls for mission schools to charge lower school fees. The cleric bluntly stated, “If you want a good school, you have to pay your teachers well. You can’t employ teachers that are half-baked and expect good results. They have to be motivated to teach the kids properly with their whole heart. You can only achieve that when you pay them well. The school fees are used for the running of the schools and for giving the teachers better life.”

The university administrator recalled that in 2005, God instructed her to venture into politics, education, sports, culture, business, medicine and entertainment. Although she was touched by the message, as time went by, she realized why the move was necessary. “We need Christians running the affairs of this country in all aspects. Now, the church is reawakening to the politics and getting more concerned about the way the country is being run. If we say politics is a dirty game, why not allow Christians to take part for change?” She asked. She disclosed that she would support and counsel any member of her church who is interested in any political office because the person has to realize that God has put him there to affect lives positively, to correct the ills and not to add to the people’s pains.

Idahosa, an author of many books still believes in Nigeria because of God’s message to her. “I see a green light in Nigeria because God told me that in 2025, Nigeria would be a desired place where people would want to be. This change would be effected by the next generation who are thinking differently in terms of development and change.”

The President of Faith Mediplex Group of Hospitals which combines orthodox medicine with prayer for total wholeness to the human body hopes to be remembered for mentoring men and women who believe in themselves and at the same time, challenge them to aspire greatness in life. She also hopes to be remembered as someone with a compassionate heart because of the urge to set up an old people’s home, care for widows and orphans. For the elderly, providing them with a good atmosphere to relax, caring and taking care of them medically will go a long way in preserving their lives bearing in mind that we will all grow old someday.

“I want to be remembered for my compassion for the elderly, the widows and the orphans in our society. You never know the pains of widowhood until you become one. Widows are suffering and I hope to give them financial assistance to start a business. For the orphans who are victims of circumstances, I hope to open a foundation where they would be seen through school from primary school to the university.” She hopes to achieve these projects through partnership with good- spirited individuals, corporate bodies and by God’s grace.

The mother of four biological children and four adopted ones gives thanks to God for giving her the enablement to live each day at a time. She keeps in shape by walking around her compound thrice a week. Cruising is one of her hobbies. Visiting the sea at night, enjoying the serenity and calmness it gives relaxes her nerves. It also serves as a constant reminder of God’s sovereignty and creativity. She also loves reading. A normal day for her begins with morning devotion, and celebrating God’s faithfulness, love and plans for the day. Office time commences from 9am to 4pm where she counsels and prays for people.

Idahosa, who was conferred with the Officer the order of Niger (OON) by the Federal Government in 2008, admonishes women to believe in God and hold on to Him tenaciously. “Make sure you make use of the gifts and talents He deposited in you because the more you use it, the more He supplies you. Women should also aspire to any height attainable on earth. Follow your heart, pursue your dreams, be committed and focused, if God be for us, who can be against us?” she asks rhetorically.