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  • NCPC delegates arrive Rome, Greece on pre- visit ahead of 2023 main pilgrimage exercise

    NCPC delegates arrive Rome, Greece on pre- visit ahead of 2023 main pilgrimage exercise

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, officials and State pilgrimage leaders have embarked on a Preparatory for the 2023 Main Pilgrimage exercise to Rome and Greece.

    The NCPC delegation arrived Rome, Italy on Saturday, 16th December, 2023 on a Pre- visit to visit some of the important holy sites and inspect some of the hotels that would be used by the intending pilgrims for the forthcoming Pilgrimage exercise which would commence by early next year.

    The delegation led by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam arrived Fiumcino International airport, Rome at about 1:30 pm local time, and were warmly received by the ground handlers.

    The delegation inspected some important Biblical holy sites in Rome and Greece.

    While in Rome, the delegation would visit Mamertine Prison, St.Peter,s Basilica, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, amongst others.

    The delegation comprised of the Permanent Secretary General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Maurice Mbaeri, NCPC directors and Chairmen and Secretaries of the various states Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards.

    In a statement signed by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director/Head Media and Public Relations the Commission and the States Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers have resolved that Rome and Greece would be the next pilgrimage destination options for the December 2023 Main Pilgrimage exercise in view of the the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza, hence the Pre -Visit to the two countries.

  • Special Pilgrimage: Pope Francis prays for Nigeria as Pilgrims visit Rome

    Special Pilgrimage: Pope Francis prays for Nigeria as Pilgrims visit Rome

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Pope Francis Benedict prayed for Nigeria as the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, paid him a visit at the Vatican in Rome during the debut of the 2022 Special Pilgrimage organized by the Commission.

    The Pontiff received the Nigerian flag from the Nigerian pilgrims and prayed for peace and progress of Nigeria.

    He also prayed for those who lost their lives in the flood incident in Nigeria.

    This is contained in a press release signed by Celestine Toruka Deputy Director/ Head Media & Public Relations made available to Daybreak today.

    The Nigerian Pilgrims were led to the papal audience at the Vatican City by his Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, among other high-profile personalities.

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakuba Pam described the audience with the pope as spiritually fulfilling.

    He also commended the Pilgrims for their good conduct during the special pilgrimage to Rome even though there were some inadequacies, noting that the pilgrims were unable to visit Israel due to operational reasons.

    However, the NCPC Boss has assured the pilgrims, especially the self-sponsored ones that the Commission would come up with a mechanism to accommodate them in the next pilgrimage exercise.

    The President of the Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji who was one of the Pilgrims described the Papal audience as awesome as well as having a special effect on Nigeria as a nation and her people.

    Rev. Akanji said, “the fact that the Pope prayed for Nigeria and her people signifies a new beginning for the country.”

    Furthermore, General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Barr. Daramola Bade also affirmed that the Papal audience was the best thing that help the pilgrims, as he expressed happiness for personally handing over the Nigerian flag to Pope Francis.

    He thanked the Commission for providing the platform to meet his Holiness Pope Francis.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Religion,(Christian) very Rev. Bukola Adeleke explained that the number of Holy sites visited during the special pilgrimage to Rome to sites like St. John Basilica, the Basilica of Mary and other important Holy sites is worth the while.

    He commended the efforts of NCPC in putting the Special Pilgrimage together, and prayed that future special pilgrimage to Rome should be improved upon by the Commission.

    Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barrister Nestor Ezeme expressed joy that the 2022 Special Pilgrimage to Rome has given him a rare opportunity to meet the Pope physically, describing the Papal visit as a lifetime privilege.

    He promised to encourage his other colleagues in other states to see the need to embark on a Special Pilgrimage to Rome with their pilgrims, considering its attendant blessings.

    Ezeme particularly thanked the NCPC Boss for making sure that the special Pilgrimage to Rome was a reality despite all odds, and lauded the NCPC for providing decent accommodation for the pilgrims.

    About 112 pilgrims participated in the NCPC 2022 special pilgrimage to Rome, made up of self sponsored pilgrims, Lagos and Enugu Pilgrims as well as some high-profile personalities which include both the Deputy Governor of Enugu and Nasarawa State as well as some first class traditional rulers.

  • Rome next Pilgrimage destination in October – NCPC boss

    Rome next Pilgrimage destination in October – NCPC boss

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam has disclosed that that the Commission is set to commence pilgrimage exercise to Rome in October.

    Rev.Pam gave this hint recently during a courtesy visit by the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) to his office at the NCPC corporate Headquarters, Abuja.

    The Executive Secretary who commended the Catholic Church for preserving the Holy sites in Israel, Turkey and other Holy Lands. noted that the Catholic Church has helped the Christian heritage and background.

    According to him, the Commission in collaboration with the Catholic Youth Organisation would work out modalities on how to include Catholic Youth Pilgrimage as part of its pilgrimage package, adding that the Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama would be the spiritual leader of the Pilgrimage exercise to Rome in October 2022.

    The National Youth Animator of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr Boniface Idoko who led the delegation of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) in his remarks, said they were in the Commission to identify with the Executive Secretary and appreciate him for being a great ambassador of Christ and his Gospel through the pilgrimage exercise, Rev. Idoko said, “we are proud of your great works.”

    Rev. Fr Idoko explained that the youths can be used as agents of pilgrimage awareness as the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria is open to any collaboration with the Commission in achieving the goal propagating the gospel of Christ.

    He further disclosed that the Catholic Church would be organizing a World Youth Day, a Catholic festival for Youths all over the world which is scheduled to take place in August in 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal and said that the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria CYON is soliciting for support from the Commission to assist the Nigerian Catholic Youths in this regard.

  • NCPC begins 2021 pilgrimage, Airlifts 150 Adamawa pilgrims to Rome

    NCPC begins 2021 pilgrimage, Airlifts 150 Adamawa pilgrims to Rome

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC has commenced the 2021 pilgrimage as 150 pilgrims from Adamawa State have were airlifted to Rome Rome on 23 May, from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

    This is the first batch of intending Pilgrims to be airlifted to Rome.

    The Federal commissioner representing the North East on the NCPC Board, Rev.Jidda Gelengu speaking on the airlift of pilgrims to Rome advised the Adamawa State intending pilgrims to Rome to be good ambassadors of faith and Nigeria, “represent Nigeria and the Church well” he said.

    Rev. Gelengu admonished the intending pilgrims to represent Nigeria, church well, and be law abiding as they fulfil all requirements.

    He disclosed that the intending pilgrims will be airlifted in two batches to Rome, through the Ethiopian Airline and Qatar Airways.

    Also speaking, the Director of Mobilization, Mr Chris Udegbunam who described the journey as a sacred one, stated ” intending pilgrims will experience and see some of the things the Holy Bible spoke about”, as he made reference to Paul the Apostle who lived and taught in Rome.

    He added that the intending Pilgrims would also visit the Papal were they are likely to have an audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

    Mr. Udegbunam stressed that Pilgrims Commission Act has mandated the responsibility of coordinating and organising Christian Pilgrimage activities in Nigeria to Holy sites around the world, as such no body or agency can perform Christian Pilgrimage without passing through the regulating and supervising body of NCPC.

    He also disclosed that the Executive Secretary Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam had gone ahead with some of the NCPC Team to ensure that all is in order to receive the intending pilgrims to which he described as a sign of good leadership.

  • NCPC kick starts a hitch free 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, Rome  

    NCPC kick starts a hitch free 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, Rome  

    By Joyce Remi-  Babayeju
    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCOC,  has kick started  the 2021 main pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Rome in first quarter of the year 2022.
     The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam made the disclosure on 12th January, 2022 during an interview with a Media platform in Abuja.
    This was contained in a press release signed by NCPC   Head, Media & Public Relations, Celestine Toruka made available to Daybreak.
    Rev. Pam reiterated the  Commission’s commitment towards  a hitch free  2021 pilgrimage  exercise.
    He recalled that the 2020 maiden pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan was a huge success despite the fact that the exercise took place at the peak of the global pandemic, adding that the exercise also recorded  zero abscondment of pilgrims.
    The NCPC boss noted  that due to the huge success recorded in Jordan pilgrimage, countries like Israel and Turkey are now eager to work with the Commission which is a healthy development for the growth of the nation’s  Christian Pilgrimage.
    According to him, the pilgrimage route for the 2021 pilgrimage exercise would start from Israel to Jordan while the Rome package will start from Rome to Israel”.
    He revealed that the Commission would make every effort to raise as much as 10,000 intending pilgrims for the 2021 main pilgrimage.
    The NCPC Chief Executive also hinted that the Commission as part of its preparation for the 2021 pilgrimage, would embark on the State of Readiness visit to Israel with the State pilgrimage Leaders by the end of January, 2022. He explained that the visit would afford them the opportunity to inspect the Hotels as well as the Holy Sites in Israel.
    He further disclosed that the Commission would ensure that it meets with the requirements of international travels in line with the guidelines of the Federal Government and the Israeli authorities on COVID-19 protocols.
    To this end, he intimated that the Commission had embarked on the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses for staff who had taken the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which would be extended to the intending pilgrims in the states.
    The statement also read that the Commission has  included  selected members of the Federal Medical team for the 2021 main pilgrimage were ready and they would be able to render effective medical care for our pilgrims during pilgrimage.
  • NCPC charts new course for 2021 pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan, Rome

    NCPC charts new course for 2021 pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan, Rome

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam is charting a new course for the 2021 general pilgrimage to Israel Jordan and Rome as he met with the State Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers, comprising of State Chairmen and Secretaries of State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards and FCT recently in Abuja.

    As a way forward, Rev. Pam who had recently met with Israeli Minister of Tourism and the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria informed the State Pilgrimage Stakeholders that the meeting was very fruitful as it centered on the forth coming 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel and the issue of COVID 19 protocols.
    He explained that the Israeli Government promised to receive Nigerian pilgrims on the condition that they would have to receive the first and second dozes of the COVID 19 vaccine and on arrival would also undergo a 5-6 hour isolation until the result of the PCR test is released.

    He explained that the Israeli authority would issues pilgrims a three months Visa as against the two weeks visa policy.

    The NCPC Chief Executive also disclosed that Israeli would commence direct flight from Nigeria to Tel-Aviv during pilgrimage.
    Daybreak reports that the 2021 General Pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Rome would commence in February, 2022.