The Nigeria Missions Executive Congress (NIMEC), a strategic gathering of mission leaders and frontline missionaries, concluded on Thursday, November 20, in Jos, Plateau State, with a renewed call for greater commitment to reaching Nigeria’s remaining unreached people groups.
The congress
Held from November 18–20, this year’s Congress convened hundreds of mission executives for fellowship, strategic dialogue, and Spirit-guided conversations around the theme “To the Harvest: Taking Responsibility for the Last Remaining.”
The sessions highlighted the urgent gospel needs among Nigeria’s still-unreached and underserved communities, underscoring the responsibility of the Nigerian Church and the missions movement to intensify efforts toward finishing the Great Commission task.
Speakers and facilitators stressed the need for unity, collaboration, innovative mission approaches, and deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit in advancing the gospel across Nigeria and beyond.
NEMA General Assembly
Following the Congress, the Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) held its Annual General Assembly on November 21, also in Jos.
A historic highlight of the meeting was the election of Pastor Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia as the new National Chairman of the 43-year-old association.
He takes over from Rev David Kanda who has served the maximum term of six years.
NEMA, which brings together over 200 denominations and missions organizations, is recognized as the first and largest national missions network in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Through its member agencies, the association has mobilized and deployed more than 17,000 Nigerian missionaries to 197 countries, marking Nigeria as one of the leading missionary-sending nations globally.
Pastor Ukafia
In his acceptance speech, Pastor Ukafia—who also serves as the General Overseer of Insight Bible Church, Uyo—expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him. He assured members of a Holy Spirit–inspired, mission-focused leadership, pledging to work with all stakeholders to advance the collective mandate of the Nigerian Church.
He affirmed his belief in the vast potential and resilience of the Nigerian Church, emphasizing that “the harvest fields remain open, and Nigeria must continue to take her place in advancing the gospel to the nations.”