By Hosea Parah, Abuja

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, has revealed that the Commission will commence the 2023 main pilgrimage exercise to Rome in the third week of January 2024. Rev. Dr. Pam made this announcement during a meeting with members of the Conference of States in Abuja on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

The Conference of States comprises all the State Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers from the states’ Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The decision to hold the next main pilgrimage exercise in Rome was based on the current happenings in Israel and the Middle East. The stakeholders unanimously agreed to the change in destination.

During the meeting, Rev. Dr. Pam urged the State Pilgrimage Leaders to continue praying for Israel and the entire Middle East, hoping for a quick de-escalation of the crisis in the region. He also encouraged them to kick-start mobilization efforts for intending pilgrims in their respective states through effective sensitization outreach.

Rev. Dr. Pam commended the efforts of the states that participated in the just-concluded Easter Pilgrimage completion exercise, which ended on October 9, 2023. The Chairman of the Conference of States, Rev. Isaiah Magaji, who was represented by the Secretary, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, expressed gratitude to the NCPC BOSS for his visionary leadership. She urged her colleagues to cooperate with the Commission to advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

Mrs. Gbafe also commended Rev. Dr. Pam for his ability to stabilize the Christian pilgrimage sub-sector in Nigeria. She emphasized the need to commend him for his effective navigation of the waters of Christian Pilgrimage for over three years.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the State Pilgrimage Leaders to brainstorm on the challenges and the way forward for Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. Some of the state pilgrimage leaders who could not attend the meeting physically participated virtually.

With this development, the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission is set to embark on the 2023 main pilgrimage exercise to Rome, aiming to provide a spiritually enriching experience for pilgrims while promoting unity and faith among Nigerian Christians.