CAN President commends NCPC Boss for proactive leadership
By Bridget Ikyado
May28,2023
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria,(CAN) His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh has commended the proactive and visionary leadership of the third substantive Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam.
This is contained in a statement by Celestine Toruka
Deputy Director and Head Media and public Relations ,NCPC on Thursday in Abuja.
He made the commendation while playing host to the NCPC boss and his management team in his office at the CAN national Secretariat .
The CAN leader in Nigeria congratulated Rev Pam for being able to hold forth as the Executive Secretary of NCPC for close to three years in the saddle.
He commended him for the visible innovations he had brought to bear in the Commission since his assumption of office.
His Eminence affirmed that the NCPC boss was a product and worthy member of CAN, hence he was not surprised he could make the difference in NCPC considering his high religious literacy.
According to the President of CAN it is our turn to come out to show our love for God and our country through selfless service.
He further commended him for being able to navigate through the waters of pilgrimage in spite of some obvious challenges facing the Commission.
His Eminence posited that it was high time christians build a treasure base that would outlive them.
He reiterated the need for strong synergy between the Commission and CAN and by extension the church, while reaffirming the willingness of CAN to support all the laudable pilgrimage programmes of NCPC.
“There must be active synergy between NCPC and CAN”.
He further canvassed for the need for economic pilgrimage in addition to the spiritual content of pilgrimage”, he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, congratulated the President of CAN for his well deserved appointment. He described him as a gift to the church.
According to him, ” CAN stands as a symbol and image of the church”.He affirmed that the President of CAN had what it takes to superintend over the apex Christian body in Nigeria having served as the National Assistant President of CAN for two consecutive terms.
The NCPC boss explained that him and his team cashed in on their visit to pay allegiance to his Eminence who had the burden of providing leadership to christians and even in the pilgrimage sub-sector. According to him,” we are here to identify with you,”he expressed.
He informed his host of what led to the discovery of Jordan under his watch in 2021 as a viable pilgrimage destination which had positively increased the profile of the Commission.
He outlined some of his laudable achievements in office which include but not limited to the commencement of direct flight from Nigeria to Israel for the first time in the history of bilateral air service agreement with Israel.
” The almost zero level record on abscondment of pilgrims, which was made possible by instituting an effective merchanisn in place, which include imposing sanctions on guarantors and possible arrest by security operatives”.
He further intimated the President that within three years in the saddle, he had successfully executed six pilgrimages, this include one pilgrimage to Rome, one pilgrimage to Jordan alone, and four pilgrimages to Israel and Jordan which encapsulates the on – going Easter pilgrimage exercise.
The Executive Secretary was accompanied on the courtesy visit to the President of CAN,
by the Director of administration, Barr. Sonny Ebiyaibo, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Charles Wali, the Legal Adviser, Barr. Obule Ode .
Also the Deputy Director and Head Planning Research and Program Development, Mr Nkaiso Ndemenang, Deputy Director and Head Mobilization, Mr Sunny Udeh.
Others were, the Deputy Director and Head Media and public Relations, Celestine Toruka and , Mrs Charline Makai. Head protocol.