By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has commended the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as a foremost pilgrimage friendly Governor.
The NCPC Boss said this in Abuja on Monday, 16th January, 2023 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the airlift by the Commission of intending pilgrims from Delta State to Israel and Jordan.
He commended the Governor for always taking a lead in the sponsorship of Christians, especially as witnessed in the high number of intending Pilgrims from the state to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan during the December 2022 Pilgrimage exercise.
Rev. Pam said that the Commission would continue to partner with the Delta State Government through a sustained synergy.
He noted that the NCPC as the limelight of the country had been creating positive awareness about its pilgrimage activities across the country and would continue to advance the cause of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
Rev. Pam affirmed that the reason why the Commission had continued to leverage on its mandate of airlifting Christians to the Holy Land is hinged on the fact that the Commission was determined to build on the unity built by our founding fathers by ensuring that pilgrimage serves as a tool for social cohesion.
The NCPC Boss also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him as the third substantive Executive Secretary of the Commission and for entrusting him with the enormous responsibility of superintending over the affairs of the Commission and Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
He further thanked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha whose office supervises the activities of the Commission for the support the Commission had enjoyed under his leadership.
Meanwhile, Rev. Pam admonished all intending pilgrims to shun abscondment and to ensure that on 25th January, 2023 they would return to Nigeria with no single case of abscondment.
Speaking, the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties Delta State, Hon. Johnbull Edema urged all intending pilgrims to use the opportunity of the pilgrimage to pray for the country, and the government of Delta State.
He thanked the Executive Governor of Delta State, H.E Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for making the dreams of Christians in Delta State come true by his consistency in the sponsorship of Christians to the Holy Land.
Chairman, Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Most Rev. Cyril Odutemu charged the intending pilgrims to conduct themselves properly and decently while in the Holy Land. He cautioned them not to bring shame to themselves, their family, the State and the Country.
Most Rev. Odutemu said, “this journey will always make or mar as Ambassadors of Christ and Nigeria.
The Clergy also urged the intending Pilgrims to pray for Nigeria and for the success of the forthcoming general election.
Executive Secretary Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Apostle Samuel Okoh congratulated the intending pilgrims for the opportunity of going on Pilgrimage at a time like this, as he admonised them to be of good character as there would be no room to escape in the Holy Land.
He also thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his sponsorship of the intending pilgrims while thanking the members of the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board for their efforts in actualizing the pilgrimage project.
In a press release signed by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director/ Head Media and Public Relations, 300 intending pilgrims which comprises Delta and Akwa Ibom State were airlifted to the Holy land of Israel and Jordan under the NCPC fourth batch of December 2022 Pilgrimage Exercise to Israel and Jordan.
