Adamawa state indigenes who travelled to Israel for holy pilgrimage were adjudged the best performing pilgrims.
The pilgrims who travelled under the arrangement of LGAs through the efforts of Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow were well represented the state as good ambassadors.
The Representative of the Executive secretary Nigeria Christian Pilgrims commission Sarki Dapwok. who adjudged Adamawa pilgrims as the best performing state on the pilgrimage also commended the pilgrims and tasked them on the need to live an exemplary lives for others to emulate.
The first batch of the 2017 local government sponsored pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Isreal has been concluded with a call on pilgrims to use the lesson learnt and experince for the development of Adamawa state and Nigeria as a whole.
The Executive secretary Adamawa state Christian welfare Board Mr Joshua Dauda Atiku made the call at a ceremony marking the end of the spiritual exercise for the batch.
Mr Joshua Atiku who was visibly over whelmed with the show of maturity and spirit of patriotism by Adamawa pilgrims commended them for being good ambassadors and challenged them to maintain such back in Nigeria.
He particularly applauded local government councils for sponsoring people for pilgrimage saying the spiritual experience is key to entrenching the positive change needed for development of the society.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Umaru Jibrilla for his magnanimity towards developing spiritual lives of the people and asked the pilgrims to always pray for him for more development in the state.
Earlier the president of Tamar Tour Ground Handlers of Adamawa pilgrims in Israel Mr Joseph Tamar poured encomiums on Adamawa state government for sponsoring the largest number of pilgrims on pilgrimage in Nigeria since 2016.
The president specifically applauded governor Bindow for being a model of development and challenged pilgrims to reciprocate the gesture by standing out for good of the country.
The President reminded the new Jerusalem Pilgrims (JP) on the need to promote the virtues peace and security without which development stride will be a mirage.
High point of the ceremony was cutting of cake made in Nigeria colour in honour of the country as well as presentation of award of recognition to the Executive secretary Joshua Atiku and leaders of groups in the Holy land by Tamar Tours.
In a remarks at the occassion the chairman Ganye local government council mr Mathias Emmanuel Bello who spoke on behalf of local government chiefs said more people would be encouraged to visit the Holy land for a enhanced spiritual society.
Part of the sites visited by pilgrims include mount Tabor where Jesus was transfigured, sea of Galilee where Peter had a net breaking fishing experience at the command of Jesus Christ as well as mount of temptation to mention but a few.
Some of the pilgrims spoken to expressed gratitude to God and local government councils for giving them the life time experience..
The first batch is expected back to Nigeria on the 6th July 2018.
