“This is one appointment that has been commended nationally”- Sen. Hope Uzodinma
The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma has been awarded by the Executive Secretary of the National Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, as the Best Christian Pilgrimage Governor of the year 2023.
The Governor received this award, when the NCPC Boss paid him a visit on Monday at Government House, Owerri, Imo State capital.
The Bishop explained that by virtue of being the first Christian Pilgrimage Governor for the year 2023, the Governor has become the first Christian Pilgrimage Ambassador in Nigeria.
“In Christian Pilgrimage, what you did last year amazed all of us, you sponsored 1000 pilgrims to the Holy land”. He said
The Executive Secretary stressed that the Governor’s gesture of sponsoring a large number of christians to the Holy land was unprecedented not only in Imo state but in Nigeria as a whole.
In the words of the Executive Secretary, “We are here to really appreciate what you have done, we must encourage you to do more for the people”.
He added, “we must appreciate what you have done, and this will encourage other Governors to do likewise”.
The NCPC helmsman thanked the Governor for his support for the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Imo state chapter.
He hinted that the Commission plans to organize an Executive pilgrimage exercise to Israel in the nearest future and he requested the Governor and the First Lady of the state to participate in the Executive Pilgrimage exercise.
He further revealed that the airlift of christian pilgrims to the Holy land would commence next month.
A statement signed by Celestine Toruka Deputy Director Media and Public Relations, disclosed that, the Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, in his acceptance speech, described the NCPC Boss as a committed Christian, and a man whose name ring bells in Nigeria.
He described his appointment as a well deserved one.
“This is one appointment that has been commended nationally”.
He thanked the Commission for deeming it fit to give him an award which he said would be dedicated to the Almighty God.
He maintained that the Commission and the state are partners in progress.
To this end, Sen. Hope Uzodinma recalled that before the pilgrims embarked on the 2023 Pilgrimage exercise, the State was faced with serious challenges including all sorts of criminalities which compelled the state to send heavy delegation to the Holy land to go and pray, when they came back, God answered their prayers.
He emphasized that, “Christians as a way of life must continue to go to the Holy land, because Israel is a land of promise by the Lord, and no evil will meet us there. We did it before and we will do it again”.
He advised the officials of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure that those who did not have the privilege of participating in the last Pilgrimage exercise should be given the opportunity to benefit in this year’s pilgrimage exercise.
“We will be able to send as much number as possible to cover other people”.
He promised to coordinate other Christian Governors to encourage them to sponsor christians to the Holy land.
He was very optimistic that under the current leadership in NCPC, Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria would experience massive turn around because the Executive Secretary has the capacity and rich wealth of experience to move NCPC to higher heights.
