The House Committee on Governmental Affairs has commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, for the visionary leadership style he has brought to bear in the Commission. 
The Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Hon. Suleiman Kangiwa, made this commendation during their oversight function to the NCPC Corporate Headquarters, Abuja.    
The Chairman of the Committee described the NCPC boss as an achiever and a hardworking leader who has brought various innovations to the Commission. According to him, “your innovations and achievements in this Commission are highly commendable and worthy of emulation”. He added, “you are a leader that knows where you are, where you are going to and how to get there”.

He explained that leadership in every organization makes the difference.  According to him, “When things go wrong or right, the leader is held responsible”

He commended the NCPC boss for proper appropriation of all funds allocated to the Commission and for his vision of making NCPC one of the best agencies of government in Nigeria and assured his support towards the vision of the Commission.

He called on heads of other government Parastatals to emulate the leadership style of John Kennedy Opara by coming up with innovations that can move the country forward.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary informed on the track records of the Commission since its inception. He further intimated on the four pilgrimage programmes the Commission runs in a calendar year: The Easter pilgrimage – March, Youth pilgrimage – July, Family pilgrimage – August and the Main pilgrimage usually held between October/December.

He explained that the Commission is currently partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Israel, to train Nigerian Pilgrims in Agriculture and other areas technologies. He added that the Commission has established a mini clinic in Israel to cater for the health needs of pilgrims, thereby saving cost of treatment of Pilgrims during pilgrimage operations.

The NCPC Helmsman posited that the Commission is about launching a new programme ‘Win a trip to Israel’ which is born out of a desire to save cost for both federal and state government. He further disclosed that the Commission intends to bring the template of Israel to Nigeria by building a 15 storey building tower which will be known as a ‘Mini Israel’, to enable the commission pay salaries and set up more technical facilities to run the Commission. He explained that the Commission intends to partner with the Private sector to actualize this project.

He emphasized that the Commission is using pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth and that over 30,000 Nigerians went on pilgrimage last year.

He appreciated the Committee for their visit to the Commission.

Similarly, Mr. 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.

Picture Caption
Chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, Honourable. Sulaiman Kangiwa (left) in a warm handshake with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara after receiving a plaque presented by the ES NCPC during the Oversight visit by the Members of the House committee to NCPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Moday February 22nd.