The executive secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Archbishop Stephen Adegbite, says Nigerians on pilgrimage will, apart from observing prayers, also exploit agricultural opportunities in Israel.
Mr Adegbite who made this known to journalists in Lagos on the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming Christian pilgrimage said the diversion to explore agriculture techniques while pilgrimage in Israel was to aid agriculture development and improve food security in Nigeria.
According to him, pilgrimage is a journey with the Lord for spiritual growth, and to further get mileage during the 2024 exercise, the agency has been making plans with Israel for participants to acquire farming techniques alongside the spiritual retreat.
In his words: “The retreat to the Holy land will no longer be a jamboree but will be religiously executed to achieve desired ends for the participants and the nation”.
The boss said that the religious group had keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration with the theme for the 2024 pilgrimage tagged: “Renewed Hope and Satisfaction”
He said that from the staff and board members of NCPC to the stakeholders and contractors, there exists a changed mindset toward optimising the goals of the retreat.
According to Mr Adegbite, the agency has visited Israel and Jordan, two of the places intending
He said there were simple farm methods and technology that the country could benefit from the host country and domesticate back home to aid our agriculture and boost the economy.
“With my visit to Israel and Jordan, our pilgrimage will go beyond spiritual retreat but will tap from those countries some of the economic development projects that made the place successful.
“One cannot dispute the success and contribution of agriculture to the state of Israel. Such economic and social variables will be tapped for domestication in Nigeria.
“I have read the pilgrimage act and will ensure it is upheld in all dealings.
