The much awaited ‘Win a Trip to Israel’ promo was formally launched in Uyo on 12th April 2016. Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, picked the two tickets after launching the raffle draw, bought 15, 500 tickets for the 31 Local Government Areas of the State. According to him, “each local government would share 500 tickets, to enable those who cannot afford the cost of pilgrimage to Israel, to benefit from the draw”.
The Governor further said that the “Win a Trip to Israel” was a laudable programme as it would help government to withdraw from sponsorship of intending pilgrims.
He noted that government alone would not be able to sponsor Christians on pilgrimage, adding that ‘Win a Trip’ was a welcome development. His words: “You know Government alone cannot do everything; so we welcome the programme”.
The Governor affirmed that “We would try as much as possible to encourage Christians to go on pilgrimage. In pilgrimage, you will learn a whole lot of lessons.”
He thanked the organizers for bringing the programme first to Akwa Ibom, and urged intending pilgrims to uplift their spiritual lives and be good ambassadors of the country.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara, in his remark, stressed that the idea of the ‘Win a Trip to Israel’ was born out of the need to afford many Christians the opportunity to embark on Holy pilgrimage to Israel in view of the economic situation of the country, at no cost to the state or federal government.
Also in his remark, the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe, stated that his Commission would ensure transparency and Christian integrity in the ‘Win a Trip to Israel’ promo.
The two lucky winners that emerged in the 1st ‘Win a Trip to Israel’ raffle draw were Mr. Obong Edet with ticket number: S/N SS015000151540 and Pastor Surplus Akan whose ticket number was S/N SS0158080038841.
The win a trip to Israel for the South-South was powered by the ‘Give ‘n’ Take’ lottery, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC)”.
