WWA 2013 host Angie Le Mar

Inspiring, uplifting, motivating are some of are the words that could be used to describe the the 9th annual Wise Women Awards (WWA) recently held at the London Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel on March 9.  

The WWA is the only UK wide event to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Christian women in the church and wider society.

Up to 250 people were in attendance at this year's event, and nominees and award winners came from denominations and ministries across the UK including the New Testament Church of God (NTCG), Kingsway International Christian centre, the Methodist church and independent churches like The Tab and Bethesda Ministries.

This year's WWA was hosted by leading comedienne Angie Le Mar. She took the awards to a new level with her professionalism, and humoured the crowd with her exceptionally funny reminisces of church life from her youth.

The WWA was also enlivened with performances by Lurine Cato, African praise artist Dayo Bell and Clif'n'Marie who struck the right notes with their renditions.   And Dionne Gravesande, Head of Church Networks at Christian Aid  encouraged women to care and support each other during her keynote speech.

It was however, the nominees and award winners who were the stars of the night.

The oldest award recipient was Enid Jackson, 82, who received the Naomi Award for founding Culture Dementia UK when she was 67. The youngest winner was NTCG member Shekinah Griffiths, 25, who is one of the youngest directors of a Credit Union here in the UK.

Other WWA recipients included BBC Leicester's Dulcie Dixon, who won the Woman in Media award, Pastor Yvonne Brooks, who received the Woman in Ministry award, Juliet Fletcher who won the Woman in Music Award, and former gang leader, cum Christian Jennifer Blake, brought her mother to the stage with her to collect the Life Transformation award, publicly thanking her for praying for her whilst she was out in the world, Juliet Coley who won the Woman in the Community Award (her award was collected by her children Yazmin & Bailey McKenzie) and Pearl Jarrett who won the Missions award (incidentally Pearl was on mission in Jamaica so her award was collected by Joan Todd). 

Pastors Clem & Marjorie Esomowei with Christine Ohuruogu

Special guests at the event were former Olympic champion and 400m silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics Christine Ohuruogu, and Shauna Muamba, the wife of ex-footballer, Fabrice Muamba who technically died for 72 minutes when he collapsed on a football pitch.

Christine Ohuruogu wiped tears from her eyes as Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, founder of the Wise Women Awards and co-pastor of Triumphant Church International (TCI) talked about her accomplishments and Christian faith before

Shauna Muamba collecting WWA from Marcia Dixon

presenting her with the Inspirational Woman of the Year award, whilst Shauna Muamba was almost overcome with emotion as she gave her acceptance speech after receiving the Keep The Faith Woman of the Year award for the faith she demonstrated and encouraging the people of Britain to pray after her husband technically died for 72 minutes on the football pitch and for getting the nation to pray.

Wise Women Awards 2013 was an event to be remembered - roll on Wise Women Awards 2014.

Shekinah Griffith 

Juliet Fletcher- Music Award 

Jennifer Blake - Life Transformation Award sponsored by Compassion UK 

Pearl Jarrett - Missions Award, sponsored by Christian Aid

Juliet Coley - Women in the Community Award,  sponsored by PJs Community Services

Pastor Yvonne Brooks - Women in Ministry Award 

Folashade Lemo- Triumphant Church Exceptional Woman Award 2013 

Adejare Osho - Triumphant Church Exceptional Woman Award 2013 

Christine Ohuruogu - TCI Inspirational Woman Award 

Shauna Muamba - Keep The Faith Woman of the Year Award

WWA winners L-R, Shauna Muamba, Dulcie Dixon, Yazmin Bailey, Adejare Osho, Jennifer Blake, Juliet Fletcher, Joan Todd, Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, Shekinah Giffiths, Silvano Francis-Griffith, Enid Jackson, Pastor Yvonne Brooks, Folashade Lemo