Celebrating the Silent Strength: Fatherhood Honored in Port Harcourt.
National Ambassador.
As Nigeria marks Father’s Day, voices from Port Harcourt reflect on the evolving meaning of fatherhood. On this special Sunday, as churches brimmed with worshippers raising their voices in worship, a quieter but powerful theme echoed through the hearts of many—the celebration of fathers.
Father’s Day, though often understated compared to Mother’s Day, was front and center today at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Higher Height Parish in Port Harcourt. There, Pastor Gabriel Adeboye delivered a stirring sermon titled “The Watchmen of the Home.” He called on fathers across Nigeria to return to the essence of their calling, not just as providers, but as protectors, nurturers, and examples.
“Fatherhood is not measured by salary or strength,” Pastor Adeboye said. “It is reflected in your presence, your prayers, and the pattern you set for your family. Many homes suffer, not because fathers are absent physically, but because they are absent emotionally and spiritually.”
In a special moment during the service, gifts were presented to all fathers in recognition of their sacrifices and roles within the family and the church community. Pastor Adeboye also led a heartfelt prayer, asking for divine strength, wisdom, and grace for every man present, entrusting them to God as leaders of their homes.
Pastor Adeboye urged men to take deliberate steps in building meaningful connections with their families. “Let us not reduce the role of the father to an economic function or a distant authority. Fathers must engage. Fathers must guide. Fathers must grow with their families,” he emphasized.
Outside the church walls, the streets of Port Harcourt pulsed with everyday stories that echoed Pastor Adeboye’s message. From terminals to eateries, people shared reflections on their fathers and the changing face of fatherhood in Nigeria.
At the busy Rumuokuta bus terminal, Chinedu Eze, a 25-year-old commercial driver, spoke warmly of the man who shaped his life.
“My father never had much money, but he gave us everything that truly mattered. He taught us discipline, respect, and how to value hard work. He didn’t speak much, but his actions said it all. Today, I celebrate him,” Chinedu said.
In a bustling eatery in GRA Phase 2, Ragina Amadi, a young mother of two, shared her evolving admiration for her husband.
“He’s not the kind of man who cries or says too many words, but since our second child came, I’ve seen a softer side of him. He sings our daughter to sleep and changes diapers without complaint. That’s fatherhood too—showing love in simple, everyday acts,” she said.
Ragina also touched on the imbalance in societal recognition between mothers and fathers. “We celebrate mothers a lot, and rightly so, but fathers deserve their flowers too. A man who is present, patient, and nurturing is a gift to any home.”
Mrs. Chioma Idika, a government school teacher, reflected on the unseen impact fathers have on children.
“I teach over 30 students, and the patterns are clear. You can often tell the ones who have supportive fathers from those who don’t,” she explained. “It’s not about whether their father is rich, it’s about whether he listens, whether he shows up at school events, whether he encourages them at home. Those things matter.”
She added that fatherhood extends beyond biological ties.Explaining that stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles and anyone who steps into a child’s life with love and guidance is a father figure and therefore deserve to be honored too.
