As part of the sensitization drive for the 2014 Pilgrimage Exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC),
As part of the sensitization drive for the 2014 Pilgrimage Exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kennedy Opara and his Federal Commissioners paid a sensitization Visit to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief. Dr. Willie Obiano at the Anambra State Capital, Awka.
The NCPC boss congratulated the Governor on his victory during the gubernatorial election and prayed that God will give him the enablement to serve the good people of Anambra State, in his words “it is God who has given you this position and he will give you the wisdom to do the work he has brought you to do”.
Mr Opara commended the Governor for his visible developmental project in the state within the short period he has assumed office in the areas of road constructions, medical care services, and environmental sanitization “you have really touched the lives of the people of Anambra within your short time in office”. He further commended him for being able to pay the outstanding pension and gratuity arrears of local government pensioners in the state and prayed that God will reward his good work of labour.
He told his host that the team was in the State to sensitize the people of Anambra state in preparation for the 2014 pilgrimage exercise. He further told the Governor that the Commission runs three pilgrimage exercises in a year: The Easter Pilgrimage which runs from March-April, Family Pilgrimage from July-August and the General pilgrimage from October-December.
The NCPC helmsman maintained that the Commission is using pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth. He explained that when Christians go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and have an encounter with God they come back transformed and affect their society positively and the nation at large. He urged the Governor to encourage well able Christians and business men in the State to sponsor Christians who cannot afford to sponsor themselves to the Holy Land, because according to him “pilgrimage should be for those who are spiritually rich but materially poor”.
He informed the Governor that Mr President had approved a concessionary exchange rate of $1 dollar N150 naira for this year’s pilgrimage exercise and further informed him that Mr President has allocated 850 seats to Anambra State for this year’s pilgrimage exercise.
In his response, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr Willie Obiano thanked the Executive Secretary and his team for their visit to the State. He further thanked Mr President for allocating 850 seats to Anambra State. He promised that he would use his good office to ensure that all the five blocks of CAN and Christian Leaders are ably represented and carried along in this year’s pilgrimage exercise.
He commended the NCPC boss for his visionary leadership style and for how he has piloted the affairs of pilgrimage in Nigeria, according to him, “you have worked effortlessly to ensure that Christians enjoy the best of pilgrimage in Nigeria”, he added “God will bless all your efforts and help you do more for the Commission and for Nigeria as a whole”.
{gallery}2014 SENSITIZATION VISIT TO ANAMBRA STATE{/gallery}