Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has urged the intending christian pilgrims from the State to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria.
The governor made th call on September 4, 2025, in Owerri, Imo State capital, during the 2025 orientation program organized by the Imo State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for intending Christian pilgrims for the 2025 delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise held at the Government House Chapel, Owerri.
Represented at the event by his deputy, Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru, Sen. Uzodimma charged the intending Christian pilgrims to ensure they conduct themselves in a most excellent manner as true believers of Christ while in the Holy Land.
He admonished them to obey instructions from the NCPC officials who will be there to guide and provide leadership in the Holy Land, working in synergy with the ground handlers in Israel.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations of NCPC, Celestine Toruka, the governor advised them to pay attention to the instructions being passed across to them during the orientation program to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
In her remarks at the event, the representative of the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mrs. Nwamaka Okpara, who doubles as the Zonal Coordinator of NCPC South East Zonal office, emphasized the purpose of Pilgrimage, which is hinged on the spiritual upliftment and well-being of the pilgrims aimed at having an encounter with God during Pilgrimage.
She tasked the pilgrims to conduct themselves decently in the Holy Land and shun any tendency that would tarnish the image of Nigeria in the Holy Land. She reiterated that the orientation program for intending Christian pilgrims remains a key component of the Commission’s policy before the commencement of the airlift of intending Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Alaribe, commended Governor Uzodimma for his unwavering faith and commitment to the spiritual well-being of the people of Imo State.
He affirmed that tge governor had continually maintained the lead in pilgrimage sponsorship in the South East and has sponsored over 1,000 pilgrims in the past few years and is again sponsoring 1,000 pilgrims in 2025.
Rev. Fr. Alaribe further commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for the intending Christian pilgrims to be airlifted on September 14, 2025, straight to the Holy Land from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri for the first time in the history of Christian Pilgrimage in the state.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Canon Kelechi Ejingini, thanked the NCPC for the strong collaboration between the Commission and the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
He further thanked the intending Christian pilgrims for their active participation in the 2025 orientation program.
The theme of the NCPC delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise, which is a spillover of the 2024 Main pilgrimage exercise, is “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration.”
The official flag-off ceremony of the delayed NCPC Easter Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan will be held in Owerri, Imo State capital, on September 14, 2025.
