Saturday, 30 June 2012 00:00

THE Executive Governor of Kogi State Cant. Idris Wada has I commended the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC for its II effective organization of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.

The Governor gave this commendation on Wednesday 20th June, 2012 while playing host to the management staff of NCPC led by the   Chairman,   Archbishop 1 Nicholas .D. Okoh during a sensitization visit by the I Commission at Government House, I Lokoia, Kogi State.

Wada said, "it is a great honour for me that you have come here to intimate us about the good work you are doing". He commended NCPC; for increasing the scope of Christian Pilgrimage from Israel to Rome and i Greece.

He stated that this feat was commendable because it shows that NCPC is moving forward. He added I that it would also afford Christians the opportunity to pray in more Holy Sites.

Wada further commended NCPC on the robust synergy existing between it and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NHCON).

According to him "This is good for I Nigeria, I will urge you to continue to I work together", he stressed. He further stated that Pilgrimage is  one of the best thing that could happen to this nation. According to rum" Pilgrimage is good for this nation". He stressed that as a nation the only way to move forward is to move closer to God. He affirmed "if there is one thing this country needs now is closeness to God."

The Governor assured NCPC team that his government would continue to give NCPC the necessary support to excel especially in the area of increased sponsorship of Pilgrims. He assured that this year he would surpass the number of Pilgrims sponsored last year by the state.

The Chief Executive of Kogi State further explained that his administration is determined to reform the education sector through moral education. He explained that moral education, closeness to God lead to good governance. He said it was important to reform along this line because this nation needs prayer and deliverance.

Earlier, the Chairman of NCPC, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh congratulated his Excellency for his victory at the polls which he described as divine.

The Chairman intimated the Governor that the state performed very well last year in terms of the number of pilgrims sponsored to the Holy Land, ne urged him to sponsor at least 700 pilgrims this year.

He further advised that during his tenure he should pay more attention to God and also support pilgrimage activities. He informed the Governor that the Commission had submitted the package for this year's pilgrimage to the Presidency which would soon be approved by the President.

He solicited the assistance of the Governor in the area of sponsorship of Pilgrims using his good offices to appeal to corporate bodies and contractors to sponsor pilgrims to the Holy land to serve as a reward mechanism.

The Chairman who is also the Primate, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion averred that the Commission was concerned with the spiritual development of pilgrims. According to him "We make sure that people wno go to pilgrimage are people who can help the government, there are lots of spiritual gains from pilgrimage; it is not a wasteful journey or a jamboree"

The sensitization visit Included the Executive Secretary of NCPC, MR John Kennedy Opara, the Federal Commissioner representing North Central on NCPC board Mrs Helen Ughoro and other Directors