By Ngozi Nwankwo
As the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite assured a beautiful and new beginning of the Commission, he has also reminded the stakeholders the need to continually pray to God to heal Nigeria.
Acknowledging that Nigeria is passing through challenges just like every other nation, Adegbite told pilgrimage leaders and managers to rebuild the confidence and continue to pray that the Lord would heal the land, Nigeria.
The ES made this disclosure at his first strategic meeting with the states Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers at the NCPC Corporate headquarters, Abuja, recently.
Seeing his appointment in the Commission as service to the nation, Adegbite also described it as a new dawn,and a new beginning, urging stakeholders to see themselves as partners in progress with the Commission.
Bishop Adegbite described the states Pilgrimage Leaders as major stakeholders of the Commission as such are expected to play pivotal role in the advancement of Christian Pilgrimage in their various states and Nigeria as a whole.
He urged the to take pilgrimage seriously not for merely tourism but as passion.
“Every year I go on pilgrimage something new must happen, therefore let us see pilgrimage exercise as a passion and there is reward for it,” said NCPC boss.
The ES thanked them for the sacrifices they had made in the past and the ones they would make in the future, assuring them he would operate with honesty and integrity and every one would be carried along.
“Together we will move Nigeria forward and we will change the narrative. The Commission will soon advertise its expression of interest in both local and international print media for prospective service providers to bid for the 2024 pilgrimage exercise. It is no longer going to be business as usual, but business unusual ,as openness and sincerity will be the hallmark of my leadership,” he said.
The NCPC boss, however, reiterated that due process would be followed religiously under his watch .
” I am not going to indulge in illegality,” he assured.
Also, the Chairman of Conference of States which comprises Chairmen and Secretaries of states Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Rev Isaiah Magaji congratulated Bishop Adegbite on behalf of his colleagues for a well deserved appointment by President Bola TInubu as the 4th substantive Executive Secretary of the Commission.
Magaji assured the NCPC boss of stakeholders’ maximum cooperation.
He further solicited the assistance of the NCPC boss in reaching out to their state governors on sensitization drive as this would help in leveraging their efforts in their various states.