By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the Women Leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have joined forces to empower women through the medium of pilgrimage. This collaboration was announced by the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, during a meeting with the National Women Leader of the APC, Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile, in Abuja on Thursday.
In a statement issued by Godiya Mathew Senior Information Officer, NCPC Media. Expressed delight at the partnership, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam stated, “We are so happy to collaborate and work with you.” He revealed that the Commission’s pilgrimage to Rome and Greece is scheduled to commence next month, with several states indicating their interest to sponsor Christians from their respective states to participate in the main pilgrimage exercise.
Rev. Dr. Pam also encouraged Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile to reach out to state Governors for the sponsorship of women on pilgrimage to Rome and Greece. He expressed his gratitude for her consideration in partnering with the NCPC to empower women through pilgrimage.
Taking the opportunity, Rev. Dr. Pam expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support, stating, “Mr. President has greatly shown that he is together with us, he has given us support since his assumption of office.” He further affirmed, “We are very happy; I believe we can collaborate and work with you. We really appreciate your office; I pray that God will see you through.”
Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile, the APC National Women Leader, shared that she had assumed office about 100 days ago and that her office oversees APC women across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She mentioned that her office had embarked on a familiarization tour of agencies to chart a new course for women through empowerment.
Dr. Mrs. Alile revealed that her office is also in talks with the Governors of the APC for Hajj pilgrimage. Hence, her visit to the NCPC aimed to seek a similar partnership for the empowerment of Christian women in the Commission’s pilgrimage program. She emphasized, “I want to see how your office can support Christian women. We want to be included in that plan in order to reduce the plight of women and see how they can benefit.”
The collaboration between the NCPC and the APC Women’s Leadership is a significant step towards empowering women through pilgrimage, providing them with opportunities for personal growth, cultural exchange, and spiritual enrichment. This partnership is expected to enhance the overall well-being and empowerment of women across Nigeria.
Godiya Mathew, Senior Information Officer at NCPC, expressed the Commission’s enthusiasm for this new alliance. The NCPC and the APC Women’s Leadership are poised to work together, leveraging their respective strengths to create meaningful and impactful initiatives that uplift women in society.