By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Senior Special Assistant to the Anambra State Governor on Pilgrims Affairs, Hon. Barr. Odira Ezeh has called for stronger collaboration between the State Christian Pilgrims Office and the Anglican Church to reposition pilgrimage administration and expand participation among Ndi Anambra.
Ezeh made the call when he, alongside officials of the Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Office under the Office of the Deputy Governor, paid a courtesy visit to His Grace, The Most Reverend Dr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, Ph.D., Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese. He described the visit as part of ongoing engagements with major religious stakeholders on ways to improve and elevate pilgrimage affairs in the state.
According to him, the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, in collaboration with the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim is committed to returning pilgrimage to a position where every eligible and interested Anambra indigene can have access to its spiritual and developmental opportunities, irrespective of social or economic background.
The SSA said the government sees pilgrimage beyond a spiritual journey, describing it as an avenue for spiritual and moral renewal, human development, religious tourism, cultural exchange, and economic advancement. He noted that the Deputy Governor is championing initiatives, including a proposed Pilgrimage Exchange Programme, which is expected to attract pilgrims to Anambra and create opportunities for religious tourism, employment and increased economic activity.
Ezeh also disclosed plans for a proposed Pilgrimage Lottery Programme designed to widen access to pilgrimage opportunities while ensuring transparency, fairness, and credibility in the selection process. He further highlighted the potential of the Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine at Aguleri as a major pilgrimage and religious tourism destination, stressing that its development would require cooperation among the government, the Church and other relevant stakeholders.
He said preparations were also ongoing for the proposed Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Summit, to be hosted by Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, with Governor Soludo as Chief Host. The summit, according to him, will provide a platform to educate Ndi Anambra on the importance of pilgrimage and explore ways of unlocking its spiritual, social, and economic benefits.
Ezeh appealed to Archbishop Ibezim to join Bishop Okpaleke as a key speaker at the summit and urged the Anglican Church to assist in identifying and encouraging intending pilgrims, providing spiritual orientation and disseminating accurate information on pilgrimage registration, eligibility, travel guidelines and other relevant policies through parishes, homilies, retreats and other church programmes.
Responding, Archbishop Ibezim first prayed for divine blessings and protection for the Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Office, its staff and its leadership, commending the efforts of Ezeh towards repositioning pilgrimage affairs in the state.
The Archbishop stressed the importance of proper planning in pilgrimage administration, noting that intending pilgrims should have clear information on destinations such as Jerusalem, Rome, Greece, and other recognised pilgrimage centres. He also emphasized the importance of logistics and pilgrims’ welfare, urging the government to pay adequate attention to the number of participants, their needs and proper arrangements, since pilgrims cannot all travel at the same time.
Archbishop Ibezim described pilgrimage as fundamentally a spiritual experience that provides individuals with an opportunity for reflection on their daily lives, their faith, and the essence of human existence. He commended Governor Soludo and Deputy Governor Ibezim for their initiatives in strengthening pilgrimage affairs in Anambra State and prayed for the success of the programme.
The engagement is expected to further strengthen cooperation between the Anambra State government, Pilgrims Office and the Anglican Diocese of Awka, particularly in promoting responsible pilgrimage, spiritual preparation, grassroots participation and the broader vision of making pilgrimage a meaningful spiritual and developmental opportunity for Ndi Anambra.
