Pilgrimage confab: Akwa Ibom gov hails NCPC over Uyo

Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has commended the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) for choosing Uyo, the state capital, for this year’s Christian Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers’ Conference.
Emmanuel, who gave the commendation through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr.
Emmanuel Ekuwem, said it was strategic that Akwa Ibom “is the first state to host the Pilgrimage leaders and managers of Nigeria outside Abuja,” adding that “Akwa Ibom state is completely a Christian state and as such will do everything possible as a government to provide the enabling environment for Christians to worship God and prosper in their endeavours.” This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Commission’s Head of Media, Celestine Toruka.
According to the statement, speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev.
Uja Tor Uja, thanked the government and the people of Akwa Ibom for receiving the Christian Pilgrimage leaders and managers in the state.
“We are persuaded that Akwa Ibom stand on a very stead to make Nigeria become what it should become in the world,” he said, urging the state to “give us leverage by increasing its investment in Christian Pilgrimage.” According to him, “with the challenges we face in Nigeria, we need to increase our praying commitment and development.
He affirmed that pilgrimage has gone beyond sight-seeing.” “We want a situation whereby younger people receive leadership, adding that we need to create more opportunities for the younger ones.” Earlier, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Archbishop Cletus Bassey, said the hosting of the Pilgrimage leaders in Uyo was historic being the first time ever outside Abuja.
“Akwa Ibom state is the best place to have hosted this conference outside Abuja.
This is one place you find peace,” he said, and gave the assurance that “this year, the state government will do more to sponsor more Christians to the Holy Land.”