The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara has said that the Commission would explore the possibility of extending the scope of pilgrimage operations to the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. He disclosed this while playing host to the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, her Excellency, Toure Nee Maman who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
He explained that over the years, the Commission has extended the scope of pilgrimage operations from Israel to Rome and Greece. He further explained that the Commission would continue to explore the possibilities of expanding pilgrimage operations by identifying worthy holy Sites in the world where Christians in Nigeria could visit for spiritual rejuvenation. In his words “the Commission will look into Cote d’Ivoire and explore the possibilities of including the Holy Sites their in our pilgrimage programme”.
The NCPC boss intimated the Ambassador that the Commission runs four pilgrimage programmes in one calendar year, they are: Easter pilgrimage, Youth pilgrimage, Family pilgrimage and the Main Pilgrimage. He added that the Commission is using pilgrimage as a tool for Moral Transformation Spiritual Rebirth.
He hinted his guest that the Commission will be holding its second Christian Pilgrimage Summit with Stakeholders and Christian Leaders on 23rd February, 2016 to brainstorm and discuss the way forward of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the Cote D’Voire Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Toure Nee Maman informed the Executive Secretary that the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire has different Holy Sites that Christians from Nigeria Could visit. According to her, “we have come so that Republic of Cote d’Ivoire can work together with your Commission”.
She explained that Cote d’Ivoire has some significant Holy Sites which include: St Paul Cathedral of Abidjan, a Catholic Religious edifice where the very first stone of the edifice was blessed by Pope John Paul 11 during his first pastoral visit in Cote d’Ivoire, The Basilica Notre-Dame of Peace of Yamoussoukro which is the highest Catholic Religious edifice in the world, the Holy Mary Sanctuary, the cave dedicated to Holy Mary among others.
