OREDOLA
ADEOLA
Despite
the low attention given to the development of tourism in Nigeria, promoters of
tourism in the country have continued to sort themselves out by sojourning to
different parts of the country discovering and promoting tourist products at
their own expense.
One of
such products that has attracted so much attention in recent times is AOKPE
PILGRIMAGE CENTRE, a key religious and faith tourism site,
, located in Okpokwu Local Government area of
Benue State. The centre is managed by the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo.
The
authentication of Aokpe Pilgrimage Centre coincided with the 21st Special Day
of Grace Anniversary of Our Lady of Aokpe Mediatrix of all Grace, held at the
pilgrimage centre.
The centre became a tourist and pilgrim site,
when the Blessed Mary, made an first appearance in October 1992 at Aokpe, to a
12 year old girl, Christiana Inegbu Agbo (the visionary). Apparently the then
young Christian had no idea of “the beautiful and shinning lady” who made
appearance to her on the day.
However, the appearance of the blessed Mary,
mother of Jesus Christ all over the world, which is often called APPARATION,
has reportedly happened in different Africa countries. The first acknowledged
appearances were in Egypt where her images and shapes appeared on a wall for several
nights. Another historic appearance was also recorded at Kibeho, in Rwanda.
Since then Kibeno had since been consecrated as the a Marian site by Christians
in that country.
Since about 23 years of consistent appearance of
the Blessed Mary in Aokpo, with the recent appearance which occurred in
September 2004, the centre has attracted millions of pilgrims and devotees, who
converge at the site every August 4, declared as the Special Day of
Grace by the blessed Mary, for worship and prayer.
Besides the celebration of the
supernatural appearances of the Blessed Mary, devotees also visited the site
annually for spiritual healings, divine encounter and deliverances. The
most significant are the miracle of the Sun and healing from Holy Spring water.
Having discovered
the potential as a tourism site, tHE
Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has recognized and identified
the pilgrimage centre as a religious tourism site, worthy of recognition
and onward publicity to attract more local and foreign pilgrims.
The
Director-General of NTDC, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, while delivering her speech
described the pilgrimage centre as one of the many credible religious tourism
sites in Nigeria that need to be promoted within and outside the country. She
observed that Kano State also has a religious tourism for Muslims (Edil -
Moulud) as well.
Mbanefo
said: "Aokpe Pilgimage Centre is our Jerusalem in Nigeria. You do not need
to go to Israel for pilgrimage anymore. God has blessed us in Nigeria with one
of the world's most privileged and blessed sites by the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The
Aokpe itself, like so many apparition places, has continued to attract visitors
and pilgrims from all walks of life since the activities of the pilgrimage
centre hit the headlines in 1995 in Nigeria.
"Aokpe,
an Idoma territory in Benue State has become the second largest town in the
state due to the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared to the
Visionary, Christiana Inebu Agbo in October 1992. Since then this place has
become a religious pilgrimage centre for both Nigeria and foreign pilgrims who
visit Aokpe for spiritual healings and genuine evidence of Christian fidelity
and divine entrustment of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of all graces.
"Therefore,
the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has recognised and identified
Aokpe Pilgrimage Centre as a religious tourism site worthy of recognition and
for onward publicity to attract more foreign pilgrims all over the world like
Jerusalem in Israel. This will form part of religious tourism for NTDC like
Shiloh and Redeemed Pilgrimage convention which holds in December every year in
Ota and Lagos respectively and Edil – Moulud which holds in October yearly.
"In
view of the importance of this site to the good people of Benue State, Aokpe
Community in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu Local Government area in Benue State, and
Nigeria at large, I hereby approve and authenticate Aokpe Pilgrimage Centre as
Religious Tourism site under the Tourism Development Corporation Act, which
encourages religious tourism in Nigeria."
The NTDC
boss, while reiterating the NTDC's commitment to exploring tourism to ensure a
sustainable growth to the nation's economy and human capacity development, and
also, maintain high best practices in our operations in Nigeria, enjoined the
Benue State government to intensify efforts at making the road to the
pilgrimage centre motorable.
Meanwhile,
the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, in his keynote address noted that his
administration is willing and ready to provide the necessary enabling
environment for the realisation of authentication of Aokpe as a pilgrim centre.
Ortom who
underscored the importance of pilgrimage to Christianity and Islamic religion,
noted that if the volume of pilgrims who troop to Mecca, Jerusalem and Rome for
pilgrimage vis-a-vis the monetary value on the economy of the countries can be
replicated in Aokpe, "not only would the rural economy get a boost but the
state and country at large would benefit from the multiplier effects of
these."
The
governor corroborating the fact that Aokpe apparition ground has become a
prominent religious tourist destination which deserves international attention
expressed optimism that NTDC would project the site as a credible and
must-visit pilgrimage centre.
Ortom
lauded the efforts of the Sally Mbanefo-led administration for promoting
domestic tourism, adding that "Your choice of visiting Aokpe at this time
is most appropriate, when Nigeria is currently experiencing economic hardship
as a result of dwindling oil revenue. As such the time has come for a
diversification of the economy from the mono-oil economy to a multi-economy
and, tourism is seen as one of the preferred sectors.
The
Mbanefo-led administration is practically championing the promotion of tourism
in Nigeria with domestic tourism as a viable catalyst.
Benue
State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom,
appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation for
adopting and encouraging the pilgrimage centre as a tourist site on the
Nigerian Tourism Map.
Iyortyom,
represented by Benue State Director of Tourism, Mrs Dooter Ajoko, expressed
optimism that "The world would also come to Aokpe just as we go to Israel
and Mecca for Pilgrimage. God has provided for us what we have been praying
for, and we shall make sure we sustain it."
