A Nigerian Reverend Sister has been honoured with the 2024 Opus Prize.
Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti, founder and executive director of the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) in Abuja, Nigeria, received the prestigious $1.2 million award, which celebrates outstanding humanitarian efforts around the world.
Speaking at the award ceremony on November 14 at Santa Clara University in California’s Silicon Valley, Sister Ngozi, a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), expressed deep gratitude.
“Did I ever imagine being named the laureate? Honestly, no,” she shared. “Words can’t fully express the joy I feel. My heart is filled with gratitude. I never dreamed that the work my team and I have been doing in remote communities would gain such recognition, not only in Nigeria but across the ocean in the United States.”
She extended her thanks to the Opus Prize jury for believing in her mission to uplift marginalised communities. Reflecting on her journey, Sister Ngozi credited her father’s determination to ensure she received an education despite societal barriers.
“Thank you, Papa. Your sacrifice was not in vain,” she said, while also acknowledging the inspiration of her congregation’s founder, Mother Mary Charles Magdalene Walker, who shaped her life of faith and courage.
Through her leadership at CWSI, Sister Ngozi has empowered women to become politically informed, socially responsible, and economically independent. The organisation also advocates for women’s representation in government and the enforcement of laws against gender-based violence across five Nigerian states.
