The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) is the only apex faith based Christian agency of government saddled with the responsibility of regulating Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. Its sole mandate is to organise and coordinate the movement of Nigerian pilgrims from Nigeria to Israel and other holy sites around the world.
The commission was established by an Act of the National Assembly in 2007 and commenced full operations in 2008. Prior to its establishment, pilgrimage activities were on ad-hoc basis and domiciled in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs known as Department of Pilgrims Affairs which covered both Christian and Islamic pilgrimages.
Since inception in 2008, the commission has advanced in leaps and bounds due to committed and purposeful leadership. In 2010, the commission was able to move from a rented apartment to a befitting corporate headquarters of its own. Shortly after, the commission established zonal offices in the six geo-political zones across the country.
On assumption of office in May 2016, the Executive Secretary, Rev. Tor Uja, and his managementt team set up eight Metropolitan Offices in some of commercial cities in Nigeria – Awka, Onitsha, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Sokoto, Kano and Abuja.
The new board of the commission was inaugurated on February 27, 2018 by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. The board has as its chairman, Pastor Yomi Kasali, a renowned preacher, with other members.
NCPC is rated most active and strongest pilgrims commission in Africa and has been attracting most countries to it for learning. Little wonder, therefore, that a seven-man high powered Ghanaian delegation led by Minister of Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, embarked on a three-day fact finding mission to NCPC from February 26 to 28, 2018.
Dzamesi said the visit was to understudy NCPC’s pilgrimage strategy over the years and how they have been able to overcome certain challenges. “Last year we decided to embark on general pilgrimage to Israel and we have been able to do the first pilot programme. But we encountered 114 challenges during the pilgrimage.
“Nigeria started pilgrimage sometime back, we have been very interested in the way the country has gone about the administration of pilgrimage to the holy Land. We decided from our Ministry and informed our President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who is very much interested in pilgrimage”.
NCPC executive secretary agreed to assist Ghana overcome its challenges. He said the partnership would be continuous, adding that the commission would also visit Ghana to build the capacity of officials on pilgrimage.
Uja disclosed that Nigeria was so far the only country in the world and Africa that runs an organised, consistent and successful Christian pilgrimage. He described Nigerians as gifted and successful people in all their endeavours.
On February 26, 2018 the delegation was led by the executive Secretary visit the SGF Mustapha. Dzamesi during the visit informed the SGF of their motive for the visit to Nigeria saying, “We are far behind in pilgrimage system. We are yet to set up board that will stand on its own. Looking at African continent, we saw that Nigeria started long time ago, we decided to embark on the three-day working visit to enable us model our system based on Nigeria model,” he said.
The federal government expressed its readiness and support to enable its West Africa neighbour, Ghana, to overcome pilgrimage challenges. The SGF obliged to a request by the Ghanaian authority to understudy its pilgrimage system in furtherance of its existing relationship.
During a visit to the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Dzamesi said that the delegation was impressed with religious development seen so far, adding that they will continue to visit from time to time to see how the place is being maintained.
On March 1, the delegation before their departure disclosed that they have learnt more than they expected from Nigeria. Dzamesi while commending the commission said that they have been able to solve more than thirty challenges out of the 114 they encountered in their maiden pilgrimage to Israel. He stated that NCPC has made history in Africa, adding that Nigeria is the only country in Africa that has been able to perfect pilgrimage by setting up pilgrims commissions at both national and state levels.
NCPC scribe lauded the delegation for finding NCPC worthy to be understudied and emulated. He called on African leaders to give greater attention to the younger generation, invest, and inculcate in them the understanding of what Africa stands for.
Aside Ghana, other African countries have been partnering Nigeria on pilgrimage. For instance, the Cote d’Ivoire Embassy in Nigeria has been interfacing with the commission on how to develop Christian pilgrimage in the Franca phone neighboring country. The Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador to Nigeria, Madame Toure Nee Kone Maman, has often paid courtesy visits to the commission and vice versa.
Indeed, in the nearest future, more African countries and the world will come to Nigeria to learn and understudy our pilgrimage process and if possible make Nigeria a pilgrimage destination in Africa as the country has what it takes to achieve this feat.
There are lots of takeaways from the visit of the Ghanaian delegation just as it has placed a burden on the commission to work harder and continue to show a shining example for other countries to emulate. The Commission should not rest on its oars but should continue to improve and advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage even beyond Nigeria. After all, Christian pilgrimage is all about Christ and service to our father land as encapsulated in the commission’s creed: “Proclaiming Christ, Serving Nigeria”.
Toruka is Head of Media, NCPC, Abuja
