The Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara for taking a bold step towards encouraging self sponsorship of Pilgrims to the Holy Land. He disclosed this during a sensitization visit by the NCPC boss and his Federal Commissioners.
He further commended the NCPC boss and the Management for the noticeable improvement they have brought to the Commission, most especially the introduction of the youth pilgrimage. In his word, “you have in fact complimented the saying that goes thus, ‘give the youth a chance and you can move mountains”.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NCPC intimated the Governor on the four pilgrimage programmes the Commission runs yearly: The Easter pilgrimage, the youth pilgrimage which is designed to ensure that the youths are captured on time; the Family pilgrimage, and the Main pilgrimage usually held between October/December. Adding that skill acquisition programme has been recently added to pilgrims’ activities while in the Holy Land, with the aim of empowering Nigerian youths due to the economic situation in the Country. He therefore urged the Governor to partner with the Commission to empower the youths in the State.
Speaking further, he reinstated that the Commission is mindful of the economic situation of the country and is currently making sure that the burden of sponsorship is reduced from the Government through the Lottery Scheme which would provide an opportunity for people to embark on Pilgrimage with little or no cost; this is one of the steps the Commission has taken towards self sustenance.
He affirmed that the Commission uses pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth.
Mr. Opara commended the Governor for his people orientated programme in the state and his ability to carry people along in what he does, particularly, the road construction and the informational center. According to him, “Leadership is about influence, is about doing the impossible and is about leading people”.
He encouraged the Governor to partner with the Commission and use his good office to encourage well meaning People in Oyo state to sponsor Christians who are spiritually rich but materially poor to go on pilgrimage.
