The NigerianAmbassador toGreece, Ambassador Ayodele Ayodeji, has described Christian pilgrimage as a wonderful development in the history of Nigeria.Ayodele made this assertion in Athens, Greece while playing host to the Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), executive secretary and federal commissioners who paid him a courtesy visits in his office in Athens.He commended NCPC for the good work the commission is doing to reposition pilgrimage in Nigeria.He stated, '' I am happy you have developed it. I must actually appreciate the good work the commission is doing.'' He further re-affirmed that he was pleased to hear that NCPC is exploring pilgrimage as a tool for spiritual and moral transformation.He affirmed, ''this is a laudable effort, the more this can go down, the better, so that it does not become an elitist benefit.''He averred that the need to allow the values of discipline and honesty to prevail in our society, especially among the younger generation is imperative considering the fact that his own generation was brought up with proper values.Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Mr John Kennedy Opara intimated the ambassador that the NCPC has expanded the scope of pilgrimage to Rome and Greece.He informed Ambassador Ayodeji that the commission met with chairmen and secretaries of States Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards in Israel on the evaluation of the state of readiness for the 2012 pilgrimage exercise.He explained that the commission chose Greece as one of the religious destinations to be visited by Nigerian pilgrims based on the work that Saint Paul did.He said that the mission of the commission to Athens was a fact-finding one.Opara also used the opportunity offered by the visit to congratulate the envoy on his appointment.'We thank God for given you this privilege of being the ambassador at this time.''The NCPC secretary revealed to his host that on October 25, 2012 the Commission would flag off the airlifting of intending pilgrims to the Holy Land in line with the directives of the president.In his remarks, the Chairman of NCPC, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh equally congratulated the envoy on his appointment, stressing that it is a privilege to be an ambassador, because it is for men and women of very good character.Archbishop Okoh told Ambassador Ayodeji that the commission is exploring more possibilities to see how pilgrimage could be made a tool for change, according to him,'' our country needs change.'' He added, 'we are exploring spiritual and moral transformation of the entire pilgrimage exercise.The chairman, who is also the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) thanked the ambassador and his staff for the warm reception accorded the NCPC delegation.
Click here to read full news..
