Pilgrimage is not Tourism, NCPC Boss Tells Ebonyi Pilgrims 

By Chinedu Echianu

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for being the first Governor in the South East to sponsor Christian pilgrims to the holy land for the NCPC 2024 Main pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.

A statement signed by the Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations at NCPC, Celestine Toruka stated that Bishop Adegbite made the commendation on Tuesday, during the airlift of the 8th batch of intending Christian pilgrims of Ebonyi State to Israel and Jordan at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The NCPC boss, who was represented by the leader of the delegation of the 8th batch of Christian pilgrims to the holy land, Hon. Clement Nweke, Federal Commissioner representing South East on the Board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, praised Governor Nwifuru for sponsoring over 300 Christian pilgrims.

“Pilgrimage is not tourism, but rather it is for spiritual rejuvenation, you are not going for tourism.” Bishop Adegbite said.

He assured the intending Christian pilgrims that they would have the opportunity of visiting many holy sites in Israel and Jordan and would not come back spiritually unfulfilled.

Bishop Adegbite urged the pilgrims to pray fervently to God in the holy land and come back with outstanding testimonies.

The NCPC helmsman reiterated that Ebonyi State has never had any issue of abscondment and that this current batch would not be an exception.

He emphasized that the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on abscondment is non-negotiable, stating that everything humanly possible would be done to fish out any absconders.

Bishop Adegbite enjoined the intending Christian pilgrims not to tarnish the good reputation of the state but should conduct themselves decently in the holy land.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Godwin Uguru, urged the intending Christian pilgrims to pray for the state, the Governor of Ebonyi State, and their families so that good things would continue to come to the state.

He stated that the Governor has done everything needed to be done to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage exercise.

Rev. Fr. Uguru prayed that the pilgrims would go to the holy land in peace and come back in peace.

Among the intending Christian pilgrims was the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru.