From Dan Amasingha,  Minna 

The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board has officially flagged -off distribution of Uniforms and 8kg hand luggage’s to the intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage as part of the arrangements lineup for 2025/1446 Hajj exercise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Performing  a symbolic Flagg-off on  at the Board headquarters in Minna,  officials gathered to witness the beginning of the pilgrimage preparations.

In his remarks during the Symbolic distribution, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Aliyu noted that the distribution is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and hitch free  pilgrimage experience for the intending pilgrims from the State.

The Executive Secretary represented by the Director Administration of the Board, Babani Aliyu Yahaya while making the symbolic presentation to the Area Pilgrims Welfare Officer( APWO) of Chanchaga Local Government, who is the Chairman of the APWO’s in the State, maintained that the uniforms and the 8kg Hand luggage belongs to the intending pilgrims who have completed their payments only, ensuring that they are well prepared for the spiritual journey.

He said the 8kg hand luggage provided to the Area Pilgrim Welfare Officers (APWOs) is designed to help manage the personal belongings of the pilgrims, ensuring that they travel light and efficiently. 

The Director Administration of the Board, use the medium to call on those who are yet to complete their payments to quickly do so, while urging those that have the intention to do so as quickly as possible.

In his remarks, after receiving the Uniforms and 8kg luggage for the pilgrims of Chanchaga Local Government and  the Chairman of the APWO’s, Alhaji Abu Sufyanu Siri Siri promised to judiciously distribute the items to the intending pilgrims while  assuring that he will   uphold the highest standards of service as they prepare to assist the pilgrims in their spiritual journey.

This initiative which is an annual exercise is to provide broader strategy to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience, addressing logistics challenges that pilgrims often face.

The event was attended by the management of the Board and some APWO’s.

Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board remains committed to ensuring that all intending pilgrims to have a fulfilling and memorable experience, underscoring the significance of the sacred journey.

The Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, has urged Christians not to feed on everything they see on social media.Eze made the call during his sermon at the church service on Sunday in Abuja.He noted that certain contents on social media could corrupt the minds of God’s children,negatively influencing their thoughts,spirit and behavior.

“Don’t let everything feed you. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Not everything on social media should feed you.“You remember the vile words of the enemy more than you remember what is in the word(the Bible).“I didn’t even want to talk about it, but I do recognise that when you head Equatorial Guinea, it fed you and re-fed you, “he said.He said that God has unique plans for His children, but required them to be in tune with Him.He added that they also need to be intentional about the information they consume on social media, the company they keep, and the places they go.Eze urged the congregants to guard their vision in accordance with God’s instructions, just as a pregnant woman was advised on what to consume to keep her body safe and healthy.The cleric prayed for wisdom and understanding for the congregants, asking God to guide them on their unique life paths.He added that they should not dwell on their fears and insecurities, but instead look to God for the fulfillment of their new seasons.According to the pastor, some difficulties are allowed by God to build and prepare his children to handle greater responsibilities in the future.(NAN

The Rector, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, says the seminary has produced four cardinals, 14 archbishops, 37 bishops and thousands of priests since it officially opened in 1924.

Ikpenwa disclosed this on Tuesday at news conference to give insight on Bigard Centenary Celebration scheduled to begin on Nov.

10 in Enugu.

He said the seminary had also produced thousands of priests working in Nigeria, Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the world.

Ikpenwa listed the Cardinals to include Francis Arinze, Dominic Ekandem, Christian Tummi and Peter Okpalaeke.

According to him, some of the archbishops are Valerian Okeke, Bishops Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Albert Obiefuna, among others.

He added that the seminary had also served in the formation of seminarians from Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia and produced professors in many universities as well as other individuals who studied there but did not serve as priest.

The rector said Bigard Memorial Seminary started as St. Paul’s Seminary, Igbariam, Anambra, in 1922, an initiative of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, the then Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria.

“The seminary was, however, officially opened in 1924 to teach theology and philosophy following Pope Benedict XV’s 1919’s letter that emphasised the need and urgency of establishing indigenous clergy in mission lands.

“In 1928, the seminary was moved to Onitsha and a senior seminary was opened at Eke in Enugu State in 1934 to separate it from the junior seminary.

“The senior seminary was later transferred to Enugu in 1939, then to Okpala, Imo, in 1942, and finally back to Enugu in 1951 where it has remained as Bigard Memorial Seminary,” he said.

He explained that seminary was named Bigard to honour Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, the mother and daughter foundresses of the Opus Sancti Petri Apostoli society, which funded the building of the seminary.

Speaking on the 100 years anniversary, the Chairman Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Udenwagu, said the event was going to be a great and unique one as it would be a reunion of the people that passed through the seminary in the past 100 years.

He listed the activities to mark the event to include inaugural Mass, inauguration of academic year and award to distinguished students, cultural event, Biblical quiz, symposium, football match and dance.

The clergyman added that the celebration would begin on Nov. 10 and end on Nov. 21.

The highlight of the conference was a media facility tour that included the new student hostels built by Ikpenwa. (NAN)