The Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, received the NCPC award of the Best Christian Pilgrimage Governor of the Year 2023 from the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Government House, Owerri, Imo State capital.
He explained that by virtue of being the first Christian Pilgrimage Governor for the year 2023, he has become the first Christian Pilgrimage Ambassador in Nigeria.
“In Christian pilgrimage, what you did last year amazed all of us; you sponsored 1000 pilgrims to the Holy Land.”
The Executive Secretary stressed that the Governor’s gesture of sponsoring a large number of Christians to the holy land was unprecedented not only in Imo State but in the whole of Nigeria.
“We are here to really appreciate what you have done; we must encourage you to do more for the people.”
He added, “We must appreciate what you have done, and this will encourage other governors to do likewise.”.
The NCPC helmsman thanked the governor for his support for the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Christian Association of Nigeria, Imo state chapter.
He hinted that the Commission plans to organise an executive pilgrimage exercise to Israel in the near future, and he requested that the Governor and the First Lady of the State participate in the executive pilgrimage exercise.
He further revealed that the airlift of Christian pilgrims to the holy land would commence next month.
In his acceptance speech, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, described the NCPC boss as a committed Christian and a man whose name rings a bell in Nigeria.
He described his appointment as a well-deserved one.
“This is one appointment that has been commended nationally as a round peg in a round whole.”
He thanked the Commission for deeming it fit to give him an award, which he said would be dedicated to the Almighty God.
He maintained that the Commission and the state are partners in progress. To this end, Sen. Hope Uzodinma recalled that before the pilgrims embarked on the 2023 pilgrimage exercise, the state was faced with serious challenges, including all sorts of criminalities, which compelled the state to send a heavy delegation to the holy land to go and pray. When they came back, God answered their prayers.
He emphasised that, as Christians and as a way of life, “we must continue to go to the holy land, stating that Israel is a land of promise by the Lord, and no evil will meet us there.”
“We did it before, and we will do it again.
He advised the officials of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure that those who did not have the privilege of participating in the last pilgrimage exercise should be given the opportunity to benefit from this year’s pilgrimage exercise.
“We will be able to send as many numbers as possible to cover other people.”.
He promised to coordinate with other Christian governors to encourage them to sponsor Christians in the holy land.
He was very optimistic that under the current leadership of the NCPC, Christian pilgrimages in Nigeria would experience a massive turn-around because the Executive Secretary has the capacity and rich wealth of experience to move the NCPC to higher heights.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NEWSNGR.COM.NG