By Jedidah Solomon
In Israel
With a view to improving on benefits tapped from the annual holy pilgrimage exercise, Gombe state government has said it would work towards devising means to encourage self sponsorship to the holy lands.
Effort is also to be geared towards ensuring increased number of pilgrim delegation, and to bring into reality, the good lessons learnt from the exercise, especially on tourism development for economic development of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent in Israel, Gombe state Deputy Governor, Dr. Charles Iliya, disclosed that effort would be made to expand exploration of holy pilgrimage beyond the spiritual benefits which it had been known for.
“For 2016 alone, over 200 pilgrims were sponsored by the government, there are states that have not been able to sponsor this exercise, even the federal government is having problems doing that and so, we will ensure that we compliment this effort in a possible way we could.”
The deputy governor, who is the leader of delegation for the state’s 2016 Christian Pilgrimage, also expressed that the exercise was expected to promote good image of Gombe state and Nigeria, as well as encourage good moral behaviour, love and tolerance in the society.
Also speaking to our Correspondent, Mr. Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, member representing Billiri South in the state House of Assembly, expressed that Gombe state was endowed with many historic sites and monuments, which could be harnessed in other to provide alternative for the federal government allocation for economic growth of the state.
According to him, the 2016 Christian Pilgrimage tagged ” Pilgrimage of Peace and Progress in Gombe and Nigeria at large” came at a time when efforts were being made to bring an end to the lingering communal, boundary clashes and insecurity in the state.
