The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja recently played host to two Israeli Envoys in his office, they are the Israeli Envoy to Africa Mr. Gideon Behar and the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Guy Feldman.
The Executive Secretary called on the Israeli government to build a national monument in Nigeria that would serve as a symbol of Nigeria relationship with the State of Israel.
He solicited the assistance of the Israeli Government in the area of Visa facilitation so that the process would be more friendly to our Pilgrimage operations.
The NCPC Boss told the visiting Envoys that he quite appreciated the existing relationship the Commission has with Israel thus he canvassed for improved relationship and more collaborations’.
Rev. Uja informed the two Envoys that Israel remains the major pilgrimage destination of the Commission adding that Israel is a covenant nation under God.
He hinted that the Commission has increased the frequency of its Pilgrimages to Israel to every two months and would bridge the frequency next year to every month.
In his remark, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Guy Feldman disclosed that this year’s Israel National Independence Day was not celebrated in Nigeria the usual way because the Government of Israel decided to Channel the fund in support of the IDP’s in the North East Nigeria.
According to him they celebrated the event in Adamawa State with the State Government and the Children in IDP’s.
He intimated that about 100 displaced Children from the IDP’s Camp would be offered Scholarships by the Israeli Government.
In his contribution the Israeli Envoy to Africa, Ambassador Gideon Behir said he had come to Nigeria with greetings and blessings from the city of Jerusalem. He added, “May the blessing of God be on this country, this Commission and the entire Africa”.
He stated further: “we love Nigeria”, According to him: “Nigerian pilgrims are well respected in Israel.
He stressed that Good relationship between Nigeria and Israel is very important. He affirmed that it was because of their interest in Nigeria that necessited his visit to the country.
Ambassador Behr further explained that one of the areas the Israeli Government could assist Nigeria is through technology transfer. He called on the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria to initiate a mechanism for the process of technology transfer and their mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
He posited that the “challenges of Nigeria is our challenges” and so we must work together to improve and better our relationship.
