Xtian Pilgrims Board Calls For Partnership
By: Darlington Omotoso
The Federal Capital Territory Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has called for partnership between the Board and well meaning organizations and individuals to promote the culture of Christian pilgrimage.
Acting Director of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, (FCT CPWB), Mrs. Rahila Isa- Baita, made the call at the weekend while speaking with Abuja Digest.
The Director said that partnership will will enable the Board to further rub minds with stakeholders.
Isa-Baita said that the partnership will encourage these organizations and individuals to understand the challenges confronting the Christian Pilgrimages and assist in proffering workable solutions.
Her words: “This, no doubt, will will ensure that these categories of people also sponsor pilgrims to the Holy Land because there are people who wants to perform pilgrimage but do not have the wherewithal.”
The Director restated that pilgrimage is a veritable tool for ending religious intolerance and violence in Nigeria and, therefore, should be encouraged.
“There is an urgent need to encourage private participation in sponsoring pilgrimages in order to foster peaceful coexistence amongst citizens of various religious affiliations,” she added.
The Director stressed the need for individuals, private organizations and even Corporations to undertake the sponsoring of family members, employees, friends, neighbours and church members on pilgrimages.
She noted that pilgrimage has several spiritual benefits to the society and by extension to the nation at large.
“We are very determined to encourage the rich in our society to sponsor pilgrimages, because it is a tool for ending religious intolerance and uprisings in Nigeria,” the Director emphasized.
According to her, “If you visit Israel, you will see Christians, Jews and Muslims, worshipping God side by side, why would such a thing not happen in Nigeria?
The Director said that the Board will soon embark on sensitization and mobilisation exercise across the six Area Councils, Churches and to private organizations, engaging both social and traditional media to create awareness.
“There is a need to really educate Christians in Nigeria to embrace sponsorship of family, friends, colleagues, the less privileged in the society on pilgrimage to help strengthen their faith and evoke in them the call to sacrificial living, commitment and deep devotion to God, providing the pilgrim the opportunity for a glorious transformation”, she said.
