Learning from and praying for the women of Nigeria: World Day of Prayer 2026
Ali tells us about this inclusive and inspiring event hosted in many churches around the country and worldwide, and why it's worth attending.
I'm happy to be your Quaker appointed representative on the joyful, wonderful and inspiring World Day of Prayer Committee for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each year, the WDP service is created by the women in a different country – in 2024 it was Palestine, last year it was Cook Islands, and this year we are hearing from Nigeria. 2027 will be the centenary year! The service features songs, prayers and stories from the focus country, to help us feel connected across the world. I try to immerse myself in learning as much as I can about the country featured, because it's an interactive process. I get the most from the WDP services when I get really involved. This year I'll be wearing Nigerian dress and headscarf, and as part of the service, I'll be reading the words of a Nigerian woman.
The whole service has been carefully prepared by woman in Nigeria, and they have composed and chosen beautiful songs as well as writing prayers and stories. We get to hear the women's authentic voices, which means that sometimes we also hear about violence, tragedy, and injustice. It can be hard to hear these stories – kidnapping, sexual violence, forced conversion, suicide, turning to crime from desperation, and more – but it's important we know as much as possible about the situation and the positive and negative challenges faced by Nigerian women.
A way to help
Prayer, learning, and the feeling of connection are central to WDP. In hearing these stories and praying alongside the women of Nigeria, using their own words, we are joining in an act of solidarity. In understanding a little more of their culture and situation, we are already affirming their experience and significance. However, WDP is not only about prayer: at each service, we take a collection. The proceeds are used to give grants which help Christian projects worldwide and especially in the country which has written this year's service.
What's involved?
At a practical level, WDP services are organised by local churches. Often, several take turns to host – for example, this year my local service will be hosted by a Roman Catholic church, whose current priest is Nigerian. Before the service we have a preparation day, which includes not only a rehearsal for the service itself but also lots of learning about the geography, culture, artefacts, and food from the country.
On the day, everyone is welcome at the service, which usually lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. It's a varied service and I find it really moving. After the service, the host church offers some food: modest refreshments, since we're doing this locally on a budget, but typically people try and include some dishes from the country which wrote the service. When I was hosting as a Quaker in 2024 and the service was from Palestine, we enjoyed hummus, pitta bread, and olives. I'm looking forward to seeing what we might have from Nigeria.
There are also children's resources – services tend to be held during the school day, although sometimes in the evening, so not many children are able to come, but we also have volunteers who go and offer these resources in schools so that we're reaching children that way.
