Anambra Pilgrim Office Seeks Collaboration To Upgrade Tansi Shrine To Pilgrimage Site
The Anambra Pilgrimage Office has expressed intention to upgrade the Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area to a holy pilgrimage site.
Mr Odira Ezeh, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo on Pilgrims said this when he led a team from his office on a working visit to His Eminence, Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Cardinal and Bishop Of Ekwulobia Diocese in Ekwulobia on Tuesday.
The Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi Shrine, Aguleri, dedicated to Nigeria’s first beatified priest, draws thousands of devotees who gather to venerate his relics, attend Mass, and seek spiritual healing.
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Ezeh said the upgrade of the site to an international religious tourism destination had become necessary given the efficacy and significance of the centre to Catholics and Christians in general.
He said the visit to the Catholic Cardinal was in continuation of the Pilgrims Office’s engagement with strategic stakeholders towards advancing pilgrimage administration in Anambra with the aim of strengthening collaboration with the Diocese.
Ezeh said he was kicking off the campaign with the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia in view of Peter Cardinal Okpaleke’s place as a critical stakeholder in advancing pilgrimage affairs in Anambra.
He urged private sector to invest in the Tansian Shrine Pilgrimage development centre in line with the Community, Private Public Partnership model of the Soludo’s administration adding that it portended immense
spiritual, moral, and social benefits.
“We visited the Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine, Aguleri, to assess its potential as an internationally recognised pilgrimage destination.
“This is in view of our conviction that the Shrine possesses the spiritual and historical significance required of a holy site, comparable to renowned pilgrimage destinations across the world.
“With the development of necessary infrastructure and sustained investment, the Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine has the capacity to attract pilgrims from different parts of Nigeria and beyond.
“This will position Anambra as a major destination for religious tourism and pilgrimage,” he said.
Ezeh said the Deputy Governor who supervised the Pilgrims Office was championing the development of a Pilgrimage Exchange Programme to attract pilgrims from within Nigeria and across the world to Anambra State.
He said the programme was expected to promote religious tourism, improve the internally generated revenue, stimulate economic activities, and create employment opportunities for youths of the State.
“It remains the earnest desire of the governor that every deserving citizen of Anambra, irrespective of social or economic status, should have access to the opportunities provided through the Pilgrims Office.
“This is why the deputy governor is introducing a Pilgrimage Lottery Programme, designed to expand access to pilgrimage opportunities for deserving citizens,” he said.
In his reaction, Cardinal Okpaleke commended the Pilgrims Office under Ezeh for his innovation and initiative to reposition Pilgrimage affairs in Anambra.
He said the Church used to work closely with the government in mobilising Pilgrims but regretted that the state withdrew participation and sponsorship at a time.
He said the Church would be willing to partner the Pilgrims Office but noted that some issues of the past should be addressed to restore confidence of the public in the process.
