Jehovah’s Witnesses to help Nigerians tackle anxiety, find happiness in convention series

“Who doesn’t want to be happy?” said Afolabi Odeyemi, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Yunusa Umar • April 20, 2026

2026 annual convention series [Credit: PG]

Jehovah’s Witnesses are set to host a three-day convention series across Nigeria starting in May.

“At a time when happiness feels increasingly out of reach for many, Jehovah’s Witnesses are inviting the public to experience their 2026 annual convention series, themed ‘Eternal Happiness’, a recent statement by the religious organisation said.

Tagged as one of the “largest non-profit convention organisers in the world”, Jehovah’s Witnesses said they would bring a free, three-day programme to 44 cities across Nigeria over 17 weekends, beginning May 15–17, 2026, exploring how lasting happiness can be found through spirituality grounded in practical Bible principles.

“Who doesn’t want to be happy?” said Afolabi Odeyemi, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “This year’s convention theme discusses how to be happy and how to remain happy. All in attendance will discover the real joy that comes from a solid hope for the future.”

According to the statement, the programme will be presented in 24 languages across Nigeria and is expected to draw more than one million attendees over the course of the convention season.

Featured discourses, interviews, and video presentations will explore topics including happiness and anxiety.

Each day’s programme runs from 8:20 a.m., with sessions concluding at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 2:45 p.m. on Sunday.

“No monetary collections are ever taken,” the statement said.

The programme, it said, would feature the “debut of Episodes 4, 5, and 6 of The Good News According to Jesus — an 18-episode video series depicting the life and ministry of Jesus Christ”.

“The ‘Eternal Happiness’ theme extends well beyond Nigeria’s borders. A total of 19 international conventions will be held throughout the year in countries including Portugal, South Africa, and Thailand, welcoming thousands of delegates from around the world.

“Last year, under the theme ‘Pure Worship’, Jehovah’s Witnesses hosted over 6,000 conventions in nearly 500 languages across 13 countries, with total global attendance exceeding 12 million people,” the statement added.

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