_Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi_
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Edo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
In his remarks, the Governor appreciated the Board members for availing themselves for service to Christian faithful in the state, while urging them to give their best to the task.
Disclosing the purpose for setting up the Board, the Governor noted: “You have a responsibility to help us lead our pilgrims on pilgrimages, where they want to seek deeper connections with God by visiting holy sites and offering supplications for blessings.
“We believe that this experience ought to be seamless, particularly if properly planned and diligently followed through. This is why this Board has been set up, to ensure a structured coordination of Christian pilgrims from the state.
“We see the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board beyond just helping organize pilgrims, because before you organize pilgrims for pilgrimages, you have to organize the Christian body; and therefore, in putting this body together, we had to look very closely across the spectrum of the Christian body in Edo State and selected very respectable members of this body to be appointed to run the affairs of the Board.”
Obaseki added: “I want to charge the Board, and I’m almost certain, that they will live up to the highest standards that have been set for them, and ensure that they act appropriately in the discharge of their duties.”
On his part, the Board Chairman and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State chapter, Apostle Irekpono Omoike, commended the Governor for giving priority to the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, and for the confidence reposed in its members.
Assuring the Governor of the Board’s unwavering commitment to the discharge of their duties, the clergy said: “We shall look forward to a good balance between self-sponsored pilgrims and government-sponsored pilgrims. We shall ensure that the confidence that you have reposed on us in CAN and in the Board will not be misplaced. We shall partner with pilgrims and welfare board members of other states and the country at large, and we will work with the National Pilgrims Commission at the national level.”
