By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh has lauded the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam for his proactive and visionary leadership qualities.
Okoh said this recently when he received the NCPC boss and his management team in his office at the CAN national Secretariat in Abuja.
The CAN leader congratulated Rev Pam for being able to hold forth as the Executive Secretary of NCPC for close to three years with particularly for the visible innovations he introduced into the Commission since his assumption of office.
According to the Archbishop, Rev. Pam has proved himself a product and worthy member of CAN with high religious literacy.
Rev. Pam was also commended for being able to navigate through the waters of pilgrimage in spite of some obvious challenges facing the Commission.
He noted that it was high time christians build a treasure base that would outlive them.
Okoh reiterated the need for strong synergy between the Commission and CAN and by extension the church as he promised CAN’s commitment to support all the laudable pilgrimage programmes .
He further canvassed for the need for economic pilgrimage in addition to the spiritual content of pilgrimage.
Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, congratulated the President of CAN for his well deserved appointment, as he described him as a gift to the church.
Rev. Pam said, ” CAN stands as a symbol and image of the church and the President of CAN has what it takes to superintend over the apex Christian body in Nigeria having served as the National Assistant President of CAN for two consecutive terms.”
He explained that the visit was to pay allegiance and identify with the CAN lead for his role in the Christiandom and the Christians and the pilgrimage sub-sector.
Rev. Pam said that the discovery of Jordan under his watch in 2021 as a viable pilgrimage destination has positively increased the profile of the Commission.
He further intimated his host with some of his laudable achievements in office which include but not limited to the commencement of direct flight from Nigeria to Israel for the first time in the history of our bilateral air service agreement with Israel.
He also recounted the almost zero level record on abscondment of pilgrims, which was made possible by instituting an effective merchanisn in place, which include imposing sanctions on guarantors and possible arrest by security operatives.
He further intimated the CAN leader that within three years in the saddle, he had successfully executed six pilgrimages, including pilgrimage to Rome, Jordan alone, and four pilgrimages to Israel and Jordan in addition to the on – going Easter pilgrimage exercise.
The Executive Secretary was accompanied on the courtesy visit to the President of CAN,by the Director of administration, Barr. Sonny Ebiyaibo, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Charles Wali, the Legal Adviser, Barr. Obule Ode , Deputy Director and Head Planning Research and Program Development, Mr Nkaiso Ndemenang, Deputy Director and Head Mobilization, Mr Sunny Udeh, Deputy Director and Head Media and public Relations, Celestine Toruka and , Mrs Charline Makai. Head protocol
