Worried over the high rate of divorce in the country, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have concluded plans to hold a conference on strengthening families.

Mr Raymond Egbo, West Africa Director of Seminary and Institute, Area Seventy and one of the organisers, said this while briefing newsmen, in Abuja.

He said that it was important to restore family values which had overtime been eroded and no longer exist in many families.

According to him, the event which cuts across all divides, religions and races, is aimed at showcasing the strength, diversity of the families and the unity that can be harnessed from that strength.

“Families bind us together, it is one of the converging points that Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans have in common.

“When it comes to the family and welfare of the family, no matter the political lines that divides us, everybody is interested in the welfare of their family.

“That is why this conference is important because if we get it right at the family level, we will get it right at the societal level.

“We complain about social vices, but it is important to note that vices that threaten the existence and peace in the society, started because one family somewhere did not look out for each other.

“When husbands and wives don’t achieve peace in their union, it is difficult for the children to understand what peace is when they form their own family,” he said.

Also speaking, Ms Kehinde Olusoga, a Social Media Specialist and one of the organisers, added that the event tagged “Strengthening Marriages” would be the fifth edition.

“The fifth edition of the Strengthening Families Conference Abuja 2023, will be held at the International Conference Center, Abuja Nigeria on June 21 and 22 respectively.

“The conference, which was held in Ghana for four consecutive times, has contributed immensely to promoting projects and Programmes that support family units worldwide and with special reference to the West African sub-region.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the major sponsor of the conference and its major collaborators discovered after painstaking research that family values are fast eroding and are no longer in existence in many families.

“The Church and its collaborators on that note made it a point of duty to sustain this epoch-making event in Abuja, as its laudable contribution towards supporting and sustaining marriages,” she said.

Olusoga added that interested persons could attend the conference either virtually or in person by registering at strengthenfamily.org.(NAN)