The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Tor Uja has been honoured with an award of credence by the National Association of Nigeria University Students in his office recently in Abuja.
Speaking during the presentation of the award, the National President of the National Association of Nigeria University Students, Comrade Adekunle Jonathan commended the Executive Secretary for his contribution to social security and youth development in Nigeria.
Comrade Olakunle informed that the Association encourages patriotic Nigerians who contributed to nation development and has played key roles in youth empowerment. According to him: “you have given so much empowerment to the youth and Nigeria Students through the skill acquisition programme of your organization”
He encouraged the NCPC boss not to relent in his contribution for Nation building and support for youths. In his words: “your goodwill for youths and humanity should continue”. “Your labour of love for this nation will be rewarded”, he added.
In his response, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev. Tor Uja thanked the National Association of Nigeria University Students for the award. According to him: “I am humbled by your soft words and the Award”.
He informed his guest that the strength of any nation lies in the youths and as such called on the Leadership of this country to invest in the potentials of the youth in order to protect the future of Nigeria. In his words, “if we properly engage our youths, no one nation will catch up with Nigeria”.
Rev. Uja encouraged the youths to build the nation on a positive frame work and focus on their strength.
He assured the association that he would do everything humanly possible to support their programmes.
Rev. Tor Uja, has said that pilgrimage must engender spiritual development. He made this known in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the National Association of Northern Nigeria Students, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office. He stressed that pilgrimage had shifted from mere sight-seeing to spiritual development of pilgrims.
He informed that the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission is charged with pilgrimage activities around the world.
Rev. Uja told the student leaders that his greatest passion lies in the youth. He stressed that Nigerian youths appear to be the most dynamic people in the world.
The Executive Secretary was presented with an award of Icon of Greater Nigeria by the leadership of the Student Union. Rev. Uja appreciated them for the award which he said would be treasured for a long time.
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The NCPC helmsman informed the student leadership of the need to work together and hold a conference for Northern Nigeria. He posited: “if the young people do not take time to think creatively, the North will be in a problem for a long time.” He called on the leadership of the North to take development seriously.
He called on all Nigerians to show greater commitment to Nigeria. His words: “we need a focus for Nigeria.”
He informed that by next year all Nigerian pilgrims would wear Nigeria National colours while performing Holy Pilgrimage.
He stressed that no Nigerian needs to migrate to Europe for whatever reason. According to him: “I want to challenge Nigerians; let us show the world the stuff we are made of.”
Earlier in his address, the President of the National Association of Northern Nigeria Students, Comrade Daniel Enyi commended Rev. Uja for his selfless contributions to the development of the country.
He stated: “Rev. Uja takes youth activities seriously and never hesitates to contribute his quota at any given opportunity”.
Justifying the award, the President said: “this honour as the Icon of Greater Nigeria is to attest to his tremendous rates of accountability, transparency, simplicity, honesty, dedication to service, courageousness, exposure and confidence which Rev. Tor Uja has brought to the public service.”
He congratulated the Executive Secretary for his well deserved appointment.
In another vein, Uja has encouraged Christians to study and obey the Bible. He made this known at the NCPC Corporate Headquarters Abuja while playing host to the Scripture Union Nigeria, Abuja Chapter.
Rev. Uja intimated that the World is facing a lot of crisis and affirmed the word of God is the only stabilizing force that can calm the economic, social, political and security challenges that Nigeria is faced with. According to him: “I encourage those in leadership who has the capacity to support the ministry of reading and distributing the Bible so that people can be exposed to the word of God”.
The NCPC boss said that it is a privilege for the Scripture Union to have a chapter in the Capital City of Nigeria. He explained that Nigeria is a good spiritual centre for the world and urged Nigerians to set up infrastructures that would bring people around the world to see the greatness of God in Nigeria.
He urged the Scripture Union to stimulate other Christian groups in Nigeria to rise to the ministry of the distribution of Bible around the World. In his words: “this is the one great avenue to preach Christ and to circulate the gospel to the world”.
He called on Nigerians to pay attention to Women, Youths and Children in the society by providing protection and support to them. According to him: “these groups are vulnerable in the society and the bible enjoins us to give them the necessary attention they need”. He informed that NCPC runs a pilgrimage for the youths which includes skill acquisition in agriculture. He buttress that Youth pilgrimage has positively impacted the lives of youths both spiritually and in agriculture.
The NCPC boss further informed that the Commission would organize an special pilgrimage programme for women. He explained that if women are given the opportunity to be trained and exposed they would be able to contribute immensely to our country.
He further informed that the Commission is partnering with principals of colleges and secondary schools to organize pilgrimage for the younger minds. According to him, “I am sure that the solution of our nation Nigeria lies in the hands of our young ones”.
Speaking earlier, the area Chairman of the Scripture Union, Abuja Chapter. Mr. Emeka Orji congratulated the NCPC boss on his appointment as the Executive Secretary of NCPC. In his words: “we congratulate you on your appointment which we believe is a divine call for you to serve the Lord through sustainable programmes that would bring men to Christ”.
He informed the NCPC boss that the major vision of the scripture union is to help Christians gain better understanding of the bible in real life experience.
Mr. Orji solicited for the support of the Executive Secretary and the Commission for their programmes to help evangelize the gospel to the world.
Recently, Rev. Tor Uja, has formally declared open a Nigerian Kitchen in Bethlehem, during the 2016 state of Readiness visit to Israel with state chairmen and secretaries of state Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards.
The Nigerian Kitchen is located in the heart of Bethlehem and domiciled at the Shepherd Hotel, Bethlehem. It is the first of its kind where a hotel now has a special programme for special Nigerian cuisines for pilgrims and Nigerians.
The Executive Secretary of NCPC while formally declaring it open recently described the hotel as a beautiful place. He said, “This is not just a place for physical thing but for spiritual thing”. He added: “the food is very good, very creative soup, I think we can make this a Nigerian home in Israel”.
He thanked God for the cooks who are all Nigerian women for making the country proud. His words: “I want to thank God for these wonderful women”. He admonished: “please keep on making the creative things that Nigerians are known for”.
The idea of having a dedicated Nigerian Kitchen for Nigerian cuisines was borne out of the need to provide a platform for Nigerian pilgrims and Nigerians in Bethlehem and Israel to always feel at home with real Nigerian cuisines. The Nigerian Kitchen is being powered by one of the NCPC approved Ground Handlers, Scopus World Travels.
At the commissioning of the Nigerian Kitchen were the Charge d’Affair of the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel-Aviv, Mrs. Frankie Obianagha and her spouse, Chairman of Conference of States, Mr. Magaji Isaiah Jirape, and all the Chairmen and Secretaries of State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards.
All the Nigerian delegations were treated to an inaugural banquet lunch where they savoured the delicious Nigerian cuisine.
The NCPC boss commended the owners of the Shepherd Hotel whom he described as good humble family and good friends of Nigeria.
