UZODINMA CHARGES INTENDING PILGRIMS TO BE GOOD AMBASSADORS OF IMO, NIGERIA

The Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on intending Christian pilgrims from the state to be exemplary ambassadors of both Imo and Nigeria.

The Governor made this appeal on September 4, 2025, in Owerri, the state capital, during the 2025 orientation program for intending Christian pilgrims.

The event, organized by the Imo State Government in partnership with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), was held at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, ahead of the delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru, Governor Uzodimma urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves with dignity as true believers of Christ while in the Holy Land. He encouraged them to adhere strictly to the guidance of NCPC officials, who will work closely with ground handlers in Israel to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience.

He further advised the pilgrims to take the orientation program seriously, as it was designed to help them avoid mistakes and maximize the spiritual value of the exercise.

Delivering her remarks, Mrs. Nwamaka Okpara, the Zonal Coordinator of NCPC South East and representative of the Executive Secretary of NCPC, emphasized that the essence of pilgrimage is spiritual upliftment and personal encounter with God. She cautioned the pilgrims against any conduct that could damage Nigeria’s image in the Holy Land and reiterated that orientation remains a critical part of NCPC’s pre-departure preparations.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Alaribe, praised Governor Uzodimma for his steadfast commitment to the spiritual growth of Imo people. He noted that the Governor has consistently sponsored Christian pilgrimage in the South East, with over 1,000 pilgrims sponsored in recent years and another 1,000 set for sponsorship in 2025. He also commended the Governor for facilitating arrangements for pilgrims to be airlifted directly from Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, to the Holy Land— a historic first for the state.

In his contribution, the Board Secretary of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Canon Kelechi Ejingini, expressed gratitude to the NCPC leadership under Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, and to the Commission’s South East Zonal office, for their strong collaboration with the state board. He also appreciated the active participation of the intending pilgrims during the orientation exercise.

The 2025 delayed Easter Pilgrimage, themed “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration”, is a continuation of the 2024 main pilgrimage. The official flag-off ceremony for the NCPC exercise to Israel and Jordan is scheduled to hold in Owerri on September 14, 2025.