By Abdul Jelil Adebayo
About 30 months ago Bishop (Prof) Stephen Adegbite resumed as the 4th substantive Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage Commission NCPC.
On resumption on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024, he described his coming to NCPC as” divine , a new dawn and a renewed hope for NCPC”, promising that there would be satisfaction for everyone.
And putting him on a scale of performance, he has not disappointed his employers.
The NCPC is an organization that is to provide excellent services and administration to Nigerian Christians who perform pilgrimage to Holy sites around the world
Worthy of note is that by his appointment, he has become the first from South West to occupy the exalted position and the first Bishop to head the Commission
Prior to his appointment, Adegbite was the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Lagos State Chapter, he also doubles as the Metropolitan Bishop of the Methodist church, Ikeja, Lagos State, he was also a former Director of Planning and Strategy to the immediate past CAN President, His Eminence, Dr Supo Ayokunle for six years as well as a former member of the last NCPC board where he represented CAN. He is a doctorate degree holder.
According to him, he has come to build on what his predecessors have done and with assurance to leave his own mark in the Commission thereafter.
He is of the view that pilgrimage should be seen as a passion and not a jamboree.
His words:” every year I go on pilgrimage something new must happen, therefore let us see pilgrimage exercise as a passion and there is reward for it”.
On assumption of office, he hit the ground running by unveiling his desire to leave an enviable landmark.
Chief among them is to fight and eradicate corruption, strategic engagement with the stakeholders, relationship building, reorientation of the mindset of people, in the Commission, amongst others.
In the period under review, the NCPC boss has been able to rekindle hope and trust in the Commission which has engendered stakeholders’ respect and confidence in the Commission.
Obviously, the giant strides of the Executive Secretary are obvious and worthy of commendation. Indeed, Bishop Adegbite has been able to enthrone purposeful and visionary leadership within these thirty months in the saddle.
“His leadership has streamlined pilgrimage operations and fostered a culture of accountability and moral excellence,” one of the staff submitted.
Since his assumption of office no fewer than 40, 000 Pilgrims have been airlifted to the Holy Land.
He said Israel remains the ultimate pilgrimage destination.
He has been able to institutionalize restructuring in such a way that has strengthen internal processes and restore credibility to pilgrimage administration.
He has been able to ensure operational guidelines with greater emphasis on accountability in selection, screening, and coordination of pilgrims.
Bishop Adegbite has been able also to improve relations with state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards through consultative meetings and policy harmonizati
On the diplomatic and international ties, he has been able to deepened ties with host countries, that is Israel and Jordan – the central destinations for Nigerian pilgrims.
The Commission, under his leadership, now works with states, airlines, hotels, and international partners for annual pilgrimage.
He has also ensured that NCPC under him has prioritized enhanced welfare, security, and logistical support for pilgrims; and also promoting accountability in pilgrimage administration per NCPC’s mandate.
He recalled NCPC’s core mandate which remains: licensing operators, airlifting pilgrims, supervising state boards, and ensuring hitch-free pilgrimages.
Absconding/guilt-by-association, Adegbite warned pilgrims not to abscond and threatened to “name and shame” absconders and their guarantors in newspapers.
Guarantors complain this is harsh, since they can’t control adults abroad.
Looking into the progress being recorded in NCPC, Bishop Prof Steven Tunde Victor Adegbite has indeed upped the ante and he needs to be commended and encouraged to do more.
Abdul is an Abuja based journalist and wrote via abduljelil2001@gmail.com
