The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja has solicited for closer working relationship between the Commission and Greece.
A statement issued on Friday by the head of the media section of the commission, Celestine Oguguo made available to our correspondent, noted that Rev Uja disclosed this in Abuja while playing host to the Consul General of the Greece Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Lykourgos-Antonios Kaplanis.
He thanked the Consul General for helping the Commission to secure visa for intending pilgrims over the years. The NCPC boss requested that procurement of visa for intending pilgrims to Greece should be done within eight days.
Rev. Uja further affirmed: “I would like our nation to be more involved in Greece.” According to him, “we need to work out ways to make our lives and work engaging.”
The NCPC boss informed the Consul General that he appreciated the early role Greece played especially in the apostolic work of Paul, thus he said: “we want to seek greater revival with Greece,” the statement said.
The NCPC helmsman further explained that it would be important for the Church to be part of the spiritual and socio-economic recovery of Greece.
The Consul General assured the NCPC boss that he would do everything possible to strengthen the existing relations between the Commission and the Embassy. His words: “we can do a lot to make our nations closer”. He further stated that he was happy to be part of service to the Commission.
On the need to reduce the number of days for the issuance of Schengen visa for intending pilgrims to Greece, he informed that the Embassy is bound by a system which comprised 28 countries, and there is a minimum number of days stipulated for issuing visa. However, he assured the Executive Secretary that eight days would be enough to issue visa to intending pilgrims and officials.
Greece is one of the pilgrimage destinations for Christian pilgrimage. Others are Israel and Rome.
Meanwhile Rev. Tor Uja has stressed the importance of women in nation building and urged Church Leaders to support women in their different ministries by creating opportunities for them to serve in different capacities in the Church so that they could partake in the blessings of God through their services.
He made this known in his office in Abuja while playing host to the Women Wing of Christian Council of Nigeria (WOWICCN) at the NCPC Corporate headquarters Abuja.
The Executive Secretary of NCPC thanked the Association for their visit and commended them for the ability to bring themselves together to operate from all parts of the country, saying “I commend your Association for your cooperation and your togetherness, it is a good example of leadership that has brought about a vibrant team like this”.
Rev. Uja informed that the Commission would introduce three pilgrimages for women which are: Pilgrimage for Women Leaders in the Church, Pilgrimage for Women who are social Leaders and political Leaders, and Pilgrimage for Women who are into business and Agriculture. He explained that these pilgrimages would expose women to the words of God, to learn from the examples we read in the Bible and to tap from the knowledge of the State of Israel.
He encouraged women to participate in Christian pilgrimage, according to him; “I believe that women are the strong pillar of our nation and if women and youths arise for this nation, Nigeria will definitely stand from glory to glory”.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the Women Wing of Christian Council of Nigeria Women Wing (WOWCCN) Hon. Mrs. Omoshola Williams thanked the Executive Secretary for receiving them.
She congratulated the ES on his appointment as the Executive Secretary of the Commission and pledged to support the activities of the Commission.
Hon. Omoshola appealed that women should be given the opportunity to participate in pilgrimage. In her words, “pilgrimage gives us the opportunity to re-examine our lives and strengthen our faith, and as such, women should be given the opportunity to partake in pilgrimage”.
