Workshop Brings New Life to Nigerian Students

Contributed by Godson Ogurie, CARP Nigeria

For over two decades, the impact of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) has not been felt in the Nigerian Unification movement and in the entire nation at large. This could be seen as rather ironic, because about 80 percent of Nigeria’s population are young people. Therefore, it would not take a genius to figure out that Nigeria’s transformation into an ideal nation of Cheon Il Guk requires the efforts and input of our young people. This became the basis of reawakening our CARP chapter to educate our students and young people with the Divine Principle and teachings of the Unification movement.

To this end, CARP-Nigeria held a seven-day workshop from September 12 to 18, 2016. The workshop had a total of 20 participants—13 students from the University of Abuja community and seven young people intending to join the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)—together with five core staff members. It was held at the Peace Embassy in Abuja, the capital.

The theme, “Become Global Leaders Who Are Representatives of True Parents,” was given to this workshop with the intention of introducing our CARP members to the knowledge of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon as the True Parents of humankind, and to enable the participants to inherit True Parents’ legacy. In addition, a major goal of this workshop was to identify and initiate core CARP members. Those who complete this workshop will be upgraded to core members of our CARP chapter, based on the experience gained.

The participants were grouped into four teams with each team bearing the name of a letter from the word “C-A-R-P.” Each team had five participants and a team leader who was usually on the core staff. A typical workshop day began with Hoon Dok Hwe (scripture reading) at 6:00 a.m., followed by morning exercises and dancing. Then the participants cleaned up and had breakfast, and by 9:00 a.m., the first lecture session of the day commenced.

Generally three to four lectures on the Divine Principle were given per day. There was also one special recreational activity every day—such as indoor games, a movie night, a Step Up session, or a family night with an open mic and team performances.

The success of the workshop did not come without its share of challenges. One major challenge was the lack of sufficient funds to meet our budget. Considering that Nigeria is experiencing an economic recession, it was really difficult for the participants to comply with the participation fee. But this challenge was met by our CARP staff, who embarked on three weeks of intense fundraising for nine hours each day prior to the workshop as well as donations made by concerned FFWPU members.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the morning Hoon Dok Hwe. We read one chapter of True Father’s autobiography every day. For the first few days, it felt somewhat unusual for a lot of the participants, because they were not familiar with reading any other text but the Bible or Quran for morning devotion. But then they began to feel a lot of depth from True Parents’ words and lifestyle, and they all felt so touched by the Hoon Dok Hwe sessions.

Another highlight was the family night that we held on the last day of the workshop. Activities such as indoor games, open mic and team performances allowed the participants to express themselves and their creativity. We also held a true love sharing ceremony, right after the team performances, in which all the participants expressed love to each other with hugs and massages as uplifting music played in the background.

The participants felt really transformed based on the knowledge they received about the Divine Principle and True Parents. One young woman testified that she was told in a dream during the workshop that True Parents are the Messiah. Here are some excerpts from the participants’ reflections:

“I want to thank God for what He has done in my life during the seven-day workshop. On the first day when I came here, the national leader gave us all encouragement, so the next day as I got up from bed I said to God, looking at True Parents’ picture, “I do not believe that you’re the Messiah, but if truly you are, please reveal yourself to me in my dreams.” I continued to say this for several more days, and then on the fourth night True Parents appeared to me and said, “I know you more than you know yourself.” Then he said, “I have a mission for you. Can you do it?” I said, “Yes,” and then he told me to go quickly, and so I found myself in my hometown. I was surprised how I came there. Then I saw a big bird saying, “I won’t let you do that mission, because you are my wife.” I fought the bird, then I awoke. On the fifth day during lectures I fell asleep, and then I saw True Father and all the participants in a big hall. We were about to enter when I heard that to enter we needed to take off our shoes because we were entering to get new ones from True Father, and so I did. From all those experiences now I know that True Parents are the Messiah.”

— Happiness Dzungul

“I want to testify what God has done for me as a result of the seven-day workshop, which I was so privileged to be part of. I am a student of the University of Abuja studying environmental science. … When I came for the seven-day workshop, everything was different; the words that were taught gave me a new focus. I used to feel as though I was in bondage, but now I feel totally free and liberated. I now have a choice, a part to play in what happens in my life. I have always been open to the knowledge that God is the sole designer of whatever happens in one’s life, but now I know I have a responsibility as a human and as a man in my own success. So I want to say a very big “thank you” to this nice workshop.

— John John

“The day I met the CARP members, I was coming from morning Mass on August 16, and then I just had a feeling to go through the school premises instead of the normal route from church back to the hostel. I saw them preparing to do something, almost all of them in a particular uniform, holding some waste baskets, brooms, etc. Then I knew they were about to do some clean-up. I was surprised because they were students and it’s so rare to see students doing such things at such an early time of day. I walked up to them and got a little briefing, which I did not quite understand, but after their clean-up they called me for an intro. So I joined them in cleaning. We had a good time after cleaning, and it was like I had been part of them for a long time.

“I got to attend their seminar, and finally I am here attending the seven-day workshop. But to be frank, since the day I started, I’ve been praying, “God, if it’s not Your Will, just make something that would persuade me to carry my bag and start going home.” But to be honest, until the end of this workshop I’ve never felt like going back and I’ve found myself enjoying more and having more zeal to listen and to know what this Divine Principle is all about, and I can proudly say I’ve known the new truth. So I’m very, very glad to be here, and it is a wonderful thing in my life. I know it is God’s plan for me to be here, and I will forever be grateful to God and to True Parents for giving me that opportunity to be part of this program. I’m willing to spread this new truth to all departments on campus. Thank you.”

— Joseph Nkwo

“I really do not know what to say, but I have to say something seriously. I was brought up in the Deeper Life Pentecostal Church, so you can imagine what these teachings would be to me. My mind was made up just to attend this workshop and quickly go back to my house. But now I’ve experienced what I’ve never, ever experienced in my life. Starting from my experience on the first day to the final day, there is no doubting this truth. All these words are a whole lot of new truth to me, and there is no doubting it anymore. Thank you so much.”

— Miracle Moses

For more information, pictures and details of CARP Nigeria’s recent and past activities, visit and like our Facebook page at “CARP Nigeria.”