By Celestine Toruka
The Executive Secretary Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC Bishop Stephen Adegbite has said it is a new dawn and a new beginning for NCPC and Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
He made the disclosure on February 15, 2024 during his first strategic meeting with the states Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers at the NCPC Corporate headquarters, Abuja.
According to him,” as we begin our journey together, it is a new dawn; a new beginning”. He explained that the stakeholders must see themselves as partners in progress with the Commission.
Bishop Adegbite described the states Pilgrimage Leaders as major stakeholders of the Commission as such are expected to play pivotal role in the advancement of Christian Pilgrimage in their various states and Nigeria as a whole. He added, ” nobody can toil with your group”.
He urged them to see pilgrimage as a passion and not a jamboree. His words:” every year I go on pilgrimage something new must happen, therefore let us see pilgrimage exercise as a passion and there is reward for it”.
The NCPC helmsman affirmed that Nigeria is passing through challenges just like every other nation. But he urged them to continue to pray that the Lord would heal our land.
He further urged them to rebuild the confidence in themselves because time is of the essence and life itself is ephemeral.
He thanked them for the sacrifices they have made in the past and the ones they would make in the future..
He assured them that he would operate with honesty and integrity and every one would be carried along.
According to the NCPC boss,” together we will move Nigeria forward and we will change the narrative”.
Bishop Adegbite hinted that the Commission would soon advertise its expression of interest in both local and international print media for prospective service providers to bid for the 2024 pilgrimage exercise.According to him”, it is no longer going to be business as usual, but business unusual ,as openness and sincerity would be the hallmark of his leadership.
He reiterated that due process would be followed religiously under his watch . His words, ” I am not going to indulge in illegality’.
Speaking, the Chairman of Conference of States which comprises Chairmen and Secretaries of states Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Rev Isaiah Magaji congratulated Bishop Adegbite on behalf of his colleagues for a well deserved appointment by President Bola TInubu as the 4th substantive Executive Secretary of the Commission.
In the words of Rev Magaji, ” we always try by all means to carry each other along”.He said,” carrying us along in every activity of the Commission counts a lot”.
He assured the NCPC boss of their maximum cooperation.
He further solicited the assistance of the NCPC boss in reaching out to their state governors on sensitization drive as this would help in leveraging their efforts in their various states.
