28th Annual August Reunion Retreat brings former trainees and chapel members together for reflection, fellowship and renewal
Aro Medical Director, former members urge professionals to translate faith and values into positive societal impact
Olayinka Akinpelu
Medical professionals, former trainees and members of the Mount Zion Christian Faith Assembly at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have called for greater unity, personal responsibility and renewed commitment to service as they gathered for the 28th Annual August Reunion Retreat.
The three-day reunion, held from August 28 to 30, 2026, brought together former members and participants of the chapel, many of whom have since built professional careers across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Held under the theme, “Time to Walk With God,” the reunion was designed to provide participants with an opportunity to step away from their professional and personal routines, reflect on their lives and reconnect with the values that shaped them during their formative years at Aro.
Speaking at the programme, the Acting Provost and Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr Sunday Amosu, described the reunion as an important part of the institution’s history.
Amosu, who is also a member of the chapel, said he was among the four men who laid the four foundation corners of the chapel building.
He said the impact of the fellowship had extended beyond its immediate members, particularly through the lives and careers of professionals who passed through Aro.
“Whenever you bring Jesus to a place, there will be a difference. There will be a movement in the three days because God will come in diverse ways, and we believe after the meeting, our lives will not remain the same,” he said.
The medical director noted that many children and former members who participated in the fellowship had gone on to different parts of the world, adding that the reunion provided an avenue for them to reconnect and reflect on their responsibilities to their families and communities.
Amosu also stressed the need for Christians and members of the reunion to embrace unity, diligence and personal responsibility, noting that such values could create a wider multiplier effect within the Aro community and beyond.
A former member of the chapel, Dr Sesan Ajayi, who is now based in Manchester, United Kingdom, said the reunion offered former members an opportunity to reconnect with an institution that played a significant role in their formative years.
Ajayi, who served as the chapel’s secretary and Sunday school teacher while working as a resident doctor at Aro, said the reunion marked his first visit to the chapel since the completion of its new building.
He commended the progress made by the chapel and expressed optimism that the institution would continue to grow.
“Aro is a well-known name globally and it has produced a number of professionals, doctors in different countries. It has been a great institution creating great people,” he said.
However, Ajayi challenged professionals and members of the Christian community to move beyond religious activities and examine how their values influence the wider society.
He argued that individuals could become accustomed to religious practices and rituals without experiencing the personal transformation necessary to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
According to him, the real measure of an individual’s convictions should be reflected in how those values are translated into positive contributions to society, politics, business and professional life.
The Chaplain of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Pastor Anthony Ogbebor, said the reunion had evolved from a small fellowship into an annual gathering aimed at reconnecting professionals who passed through the institution.
Ogbebor explained that the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, served not only as a clinical facility but also as a training and research institution that attracted different categories of health professionals.
He said many professionals participated in the chapel during their clinical postings, creating a community that extended beyond their period of service or training at the hospital.
According to him, the idea of the annual three-day retreat emerged from the need to reconnect with former members, understand their progress and encourage them to remain connected to the values they acquired during their formative years.
“We started as a small fellowship, but as we began to grow, the church also grew and the number of people increased,” he said.
Ogbebor said the reunion had become particularly relevant as many former members had moved into demanding professional careers, leaving them with less time for personal reflection.
He said the theme of the 28th edition was therefore a call for participants to slow down, reflect and reassess the direction of their lives.
The chaplain observed that professional and educational achievements could sometimes make individuals rely excessively on their abilities while neglecting the values and personal reflection that guided them earlier in life.
He said the retreat was intended to help participants regain balance, reconsider their priorities and remain grounded despite their professional accomplishments.
Ogbebor further urged former members not to lose sight of the values they acquired at Aro, stressing that life should not be approached as a competition.
The organisers said the retreat featured teachings, worship, fellowship and other activities, with participants drawn from different professional and geographical backgrounds.
They described the 28th Annual August Reunion as a platform for renewal, reconnection and reflection, particularly for professionals whose careers and responsibilities have taken them to different parts of Nigeria and the world.
