Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board
The Ekiti State Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board was established through an edict of the Old Ondo State in 1996.
There are three departments in the Commission as follows:
- Administration and Supplies
- Finance and Accounts
- Audit
Vision:
To create more awareness and ensure that 75% of Ekiti Christians participate in the holy Pilgrimage and Extending youth empowerment programmes to the state of Israel on many different acquisition skills vis-à-vis agriculture and other trades. Thereafter, they the (Youths) will replicate same in Ekiti and Nigeria as whole by turning their products to revenue generation.
Mission:
- Registration of intending Pilgrims usually commence in the first quarter of the year
- Sensitization/Mobilization:- Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board sensitize and mobilize private individual Churches. Interest groups like Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Besides trade Union such as NLC, NULGE,ANCOPSS and Corporate Organization and sensitized are mobilized through personal contact circular letters, Radio and Television announcements.
- Screening of Pilgrims:- The Board is expected to carry out a screening exercise later in the year. The exercise will be done in collaboration with officials of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in Abuja. The objective of the screening exercise is to determine all potential absconders, under/over age persons and those that are physically incapable for the Pilgrimage.
- The Board embarks on Orientation Programme for intending Pilgrims; it is for the purpose of preparing the intending pilgrims socially mentally and psychologically for the spiritual journey to the holy land. The orientation programme teaches them some aspects of the life of the people of Israel especially on sensitive issue like security.
- Departure and Thanks Giving Programme:- As a tradition, the Board usually organize a Departure Services for the intending Pilgrims where His Excellency, the Governor will address them. And upon the arrival from the Holy Pilgrimage, a thanksgiving service will be held to round off the entire programme.Conducting voters and civic education leading to Local Government elections
- The board generates revenue to the State Government through the sale of forms
- The board carries out any Policy directive or administrative guidelines that may be given to the board
Don’t Violate Laws in Holy Land, EKSG Tells Christian Pilgrims
The Ekiti State Government, has appealed to intending Christian
pilgrims on a voyage to Holy Land of Israel to refrain from acts that
could grossly violate immigration laws during their spiritual sojourn
to the country.
The government specifically, charged Intending pilgrims to act as
patriotic and good ambassadors, and distinguish themselves as people
of character and integrity during their stints at the Holy land.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the admonition
at a special farewell service, held at the Government House Chapel, in
Ado Ekiti, for the Ekiti contingents to this year’s holy pilgrimage.
The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on
Media, Victor Ogunje, reminded them to pray for Nigeria and Ekiti
State in particular, as the country is in fire need of divine
intervention that will bring about the desired accelerated
socio-economic transformation.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the pilgrims to steer clear of any act that
could tarnish the image of the State and bring the Christendom to
opprobrium.
She said; “I enjoin you not to perceive this journey as a period for
merriment, but to see the pilgrimage as a life time opportunity.
Comply with all the rules, don’t act lawlessly, so that you won’t
tarnish the image of our country.
“There are long standing immigration rules guiding your conducts,
kindly observe and obey them. Ekiti had always had one of the best
contingents since inception and this shouldn’t be an exemption”.
The Deputy Governor added that the present administration under
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has remained the vanguard of peaceful
co-existence among diverse religions, urging the intending pilgrims
to offer prayers against any insurrection in the facet of religious
crisis in Ekiti.
In his sermon at the spiritual procession, the CAN Chairman in Ekiti
State, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, told the pilgrims that God, the
State and their families expect a positive change of behaviour after
the pilgrimage to substantiate the fact that the holy journey has made
a tremendous positive impacts.
In their addresses, the Government House Chaplain, Pastor Segun
Awolumate and the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Christian Pilgrims
Welfare Board, urged them not to involve in any frivolities their
could jeopardize the kernel mission of their voyage to Israel.
They said they must use the opportunity to consecrate themselves to
God, and intercede fervently through spiritual supplications on behalf
of the nation, so that it can surmount the multifarious crises
pummeling it.
