ABUJA – Mr John-Kennedy Opara, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), has reaffirmed the need for partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on pilgrimage awareness.
Opara said this on Tuesday in Abuja when he paid a condolence visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Ima Niboro, over the death his mother.
He said that partnership with the media would add value to pilgrimage activities as the synergy would facilitate the sensitisation of intending pilgrims who wish to experience spiritual and moral transformation during their visit to the holy land.
According to him, the theme for this year’s exercise is “Pilgrimage as a Tool for Moral and Spiritual Transformation”.
Opara said that moral and spiritual transformation during pilgrimage had become necessary in turn affect those around them on their return.
“NAN has been an extension of the pilgrims commission partnership wise because we have enjoyed sound coverage from the agency and it is through such coverage that the activities of the commission are known.
“We have started the 2014 pilgrimage and today, up to three to four flights have left the country to Israel and it continues till December when we will have the last flight.
“We are using pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation, hoping that those who would undertake this programme, would be morally and spiritually transformed
“So when they come back to Nigeria, they will be able to help to move Nigeria forward by affecting lives positively.
“I have come to seek partnership with NAN so, together, we can develop the country,’’ the executive secretary said.
Responding, Niboro commended Opara his honesty and hard work which, he said, had resulted to the transformation of the commission.
“You have transformed the entire pilgrimage programme and made the president to cue into pilgrimage to the extent that other countries noticed it and, for us, it is a thing of pride.
“The Government of Israel declared that the Nigerian president is the first serving president to lead his people to pilgrimage.
“Most people in the world are trained to follow their faith no matter their situation in life, and I can say that the depth of our faith in Nigeria is quite deep.
“President Jonathan has led his country with abiding fear of God and it takes a man of greatness to know there is a greater power and that he is from God and acknowledge Him.’’
Niboro said that the President’s faith in God brought had about great achievements in the country, including the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease.
“Though the president has suffered the most in the history of the country,but he is still standing because God is with him and he has achieved a lot through the hand of God.
“God has distinguished him to be the father of modern Nigeria just like Lee Kuan Yew is the father of modern Singapore.
“It takes abiding faith in God to succeed.”
He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to emulate the president’s faith in God in order to have a prosperous nation. (NAN)