By Marvelous Ezenwa, Awka
The Senior Special Assistant to
the Governor on Pilgrims Affairs, Hon. Barr. Odira Ezeh, has called for
stronger collaboration between the Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Office and
the State House of Assembly towards repositioning pilgrimage administration and
unlocking its spiritual, cultural and socio-economic potentials in the state.
Ezeh made the call when he led officials of the Anambra State Christian
Pilgrims Office on a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Anambra State House
of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, as part of efforts to strengthen
engagement with key stakeholders and seek legislative support for the
development of pilgrimage affairs in Anambra.
Speaking during the visit, Ezeh said Anambra State is recognized by the
Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), stressing the importance of
building a functional and accessible pilgrimage system that would provide opportunities
for more deserving sons and daughters of the state.
He conveyed the commitment of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to the
advancement of pilgrimage affairs, noting that the administration views
pilgrimage not only as a spiritual journey but also as an avenue for moral
renewal, human development, religious tourism, cultural exchange and
socio-economic development.
According to him, the Deputy
Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, is also committed to strengthening the
pilgrimage system in the state through initiatives aimed at making it more
accessible, transparent, efficient and responsive.
Ezeh highlighted some of the proposed initiatives of the office, including a
"Pilgrimage Exchange Programme", designed to attract pilgrims from
within and outside Nigeria to Anambra, with the potential to promote religious
tourism, stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities.
He also disclosed plans towards introducing a "Pilgrimage Lottery
Programme", which he said would help expand access to pilgrimage
opportunities while promoting transparency, fairness and public confidence in
the selection process.
The SSA further drew attention to the "Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine in
Aguleri", describing it as a potential religious tourism and
pilgrimage destination. He recalled that his office visited the shrine on May
10, 2026, to assess its potential and explore ways of developing it into a
recognized pilgrimage site.
Ezeh noted that the development of the shrine would require collaboration among
government, the Church and other stakeholders, particularly in the areas of
infrastructure, preservation and investment, while maintaining its spiritual
heritage.
He also informed the Speaker about preparations for the proposed "Anambra
State Christian Pilgrims Summit", which is expected to provide a
platform for stakeholders to educate the public on the essence and benefits of
pilgrimage, while deliberating on ways to improve participation, administration
and collaboration.
Responding, the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.
Somtochukwu Udeze, urged the Pilgrims Office, under the leadership of Ezeh, to
intensify efforts towards reviving and strengthening the office by recruiting
competent personnel and establishing a more functional institutional structure.
Udeze stressed the need for the office to have a dedicated budget for its
programmes, while also exploring partnerships with private individuals and
organizations that could contribute to the success of pilgrimage activities in
the state.
He said the major challenge was not necessarily the availability of funds, but
the presence of committed leadership capable of identifying opportunities, mobilizing
resources and effectively driving the programmes.
The Speaker further called on the House of Assembly committee overseeing
pilgrimage affairs to work closely with the Pilgrims Office to ensure that the
programme receives the necessary legislative attention and support.
He also urged the office to work towards establishing a "Pilgrimage
Affairs Board" for the state, suggesting that the Deputy Governor, Dr.
Onyekachukwu Ibezim, should play a leading role in the board to ensure
effective coordination and administration of pilgrimage affairs.
Udeze said, apart from government involvement, there were other ways through
which well-meaning Anambra people could support their family members and others
interested in embarking on pilgrimage, stressing the importance of encouraging
broader participation.
He assured the Pilgrims Office
of his support, particularly through legislation that would strengthen and
facilitate pilgrimage programmes in the state. He also said any member of the
House who wishes to participate in pilgrimage would be expected to obtain the
appropriate form, while urging the office to intensify public enlightenment on
the procedures for obtaining pilgrimage forms.
The Speaker commended the Pilgrims Affairs Office, led by Ezeh, for its efforts
towards improving pilgrimage administration in the state. He, however, frowned
on the practice of treating pilgrimage primarily as a business venture, stressing
that the spiritual purpose of pilgrimage should remain central.
He urged stakeholders to promote pilgrimage as an opportunity for spiritual
reflection, renewal and development, rather than allowing commercial activities
to overshadow its core religious purpose.
The courtesy visit provided an opportunity for both the Pilgrims Office and the
State Legislature to discuss areas of cooperation and institutional support,
with both sides emphasizing the importance of collaboration in repositioning
pilgrimage affairs and ensuring that its potential benefits are made accessible
to Ndi Anambra.
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