The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrim (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja has said that the Commission intends to introduce pilgrimage programme specific for women.
He made the disclosure in Abuja while playing host to the Executive Members of the Guide of St. Anthony of Padua. His words, “we will introduce a pilgrimage that is specific for women in Nigeria”.
He extolled the value of women in national development. According to him:” if women in this country can stand up for anything, all the problems we face as a country will disappear”.
He stressed the need to see more women in Nigeria rise up to take up the leadership roles in the country. He described women as distinguished species that have important part to play in the development of pilgrimage in Nigeria.
Rev. Uja further affirmed that women and youths are very important groups in Nigeria that must be respected.
The NCPC boss explained that the Catholic Church has a long tradition of pilgrimage thus he urged members of St. Anthony of Padua to widen their scope to include other Christians in their pilgrimage plans.
He promised to look at the challenges which the Guild faced in their last pilgrimage with a few to addressing them. His words, ‘many of the ugly experiences you have had before, it will not happen again, they will be tackled”.
He affirmed that he would want all Nigerian Pilgrims to be treated with dignity. He further maintained that whatever the Commission agrees with the Ground Handlers would be implemented to the latter.
Rev. Uja assured that the Commission would produce guidelines that would be made available to Private Tour Operators and Pilgrims. He called on all Private Tour Operators that are involved in pilgrimage to ensure they are registered with the Commission.
Earlier, the National President of the Guild, Mrs. Comfort Mary Edewor thanked the NCPC boss for receiving them warmly. She hinted that her guild participated in pilgrimage for the first time in 2013, where they visited Rome, Padua and Israel.
She promised that the number of intending pilgrims this year would be three times more. She promised to make every pilgrimage outing of the Guild better. According to her, “as we go, we will continue to make it better and better”.
