300 Ebonyi Christian Pilgrims Airlifted
To Israel From Enugu Airport
Over 300 intending Christian Pilgrims from Ebonyi state were on Tuesday (18/2/25) airlifted from Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu on their journey to the Holy Land of Israel.
This was the first group from the South East to the Holy Land in the year all sponsored by the Ebonyi state government, while the other states of the zone are expected to follow suit soon.
Addressing the intending Pilgrims before departure, the Federal Commissioner in charge of the South East in the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr Clement Nweke, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, charged them to be focused on the purpose for which they embarked on the journey.
Mr Nweke urged Christians to always take the pilgrimage exercise seriously, noting that “we Nigerians who believe in things of spirit, believe that through pilgrimage there’s serious spiritual restoration”.
The Chairman, Ebonyi state Christian Pilgrims Board, Rev.Fr Uguru believed that the exercise was the right path towards continued progress of the State and asked the participants to obey all the rules.
“They should be obedient, it’s not business trip; it’s a spiritual trip, we’re going there to pray, for the governor, for our state, for ourselves, not to make money. So, anybody who’s going there to make money is a fool. If you want to make money stay in Ebonyi and make money”, Rev.Fr Uguru admonished.
For the Executive Secretary, Ebonyi state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi, the journey to the Holy Land will go a long way in moulding the moral state of the participants for the better.
“You know when we go for pilgrimage, the spiritual exercise, then people will have the opportunity to go to the Holy Land and pray first of all. Pray for our dear country Nigeria, pray for our state Ebonyi and pray for the government that is doing so well, and then pray for their Excellencies whom God has chosen to lead the people at this time.
“If you look at the impact, we’re looking at transformation, spiritual transformation and spiritual rejuvenation of the people, because before a man will change at the outside, something has to change inside him. So I see the governor’s gesture as a step in the right direction”, Pastor Oyeyemi said.
Participants in the pilgrimage including the Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi state governor on Environment, Simon Okechukwu Nwokoro and Abigail Eze, while thanking Governor Francis Nwifuru for the opportunity,expressed joy and readiness to achieve spiritual upliftment at the Holy Land.
The wife of Ebonyi state governor, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru is also participating in the spiritual exercise at the Holy Land.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
