The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, came alive on Friday, November 21, 2025, as the Association of Christian Correspondents of Nigeria (ACCoN) hosted its 5th Annual Lecture, Anniversary Celebration, and the official unveiling of its new name and logo.
The event, themed ‘Socioeconomic Benefits of Pilgrimage to the Nigerian State,’ drew government officials, clerics, media leaders, and Christian tourism advocates, marking a major milestone in ACCoN’s mission to professionalise Christian journalism and deepen the link between faith and national development.
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Delivering the keynote address, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), underscored the spiritual and socioeconomic value of Christian pilgrimages.
Quoting Psalm 84:5, he described pilgrimage as both a faith-deepening journey and a contributor to national growth. Adegbite broke down the value of pilgrimage into its motives, the activities involved, and the role of tourism in faith-centred travel.
He emphasized four major national benefits: infrastructure development, opportunities for private travel operators, revenue generation, and the merging of spiritual growth with economic advancement.
“Pilgrimage offers tangible spiritual and material benefits — from insurance cover to retirement opportunities and even vacation support,” he said.
Bishop Charles Ighele, Chairman of ACCoN’s Board of Trustees, commended the association for balancing professionalism with fairness in reporting church activities.
He praised members for “walking a delicate rope — not destroying the Church, yet not ignoring areas needing correction,” and prayed for divine support as ACCoN entered a new phase.
Earlier in his welcome address, ACCoN President, Adeola Ogunlade described the gathering as a recommitment to the association’s mandate.
“Our mission as Christian journalists is not merely to report,” he said, “but to edify, clarify, and preserve truth in a world clouded by misinformation.”
He acknowledged ongoing debates over public funding of pilgrimages but stressed that ACCoN’s focus was on exploring the spiritual, moral, cultural, and economic impacts of pilgrimage rather than fueling controversy.
Ogunlade also unveiled the association’s future aspirations, including: a permanent secretariat, a Christian media resource library, a conference hall, and an endowment fund for the annual Christian reporters’ award.
He disclosed that discussions were underway to collaborate with the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) to jointly host the awards, a project expected to cost at least ₦1 million.
With support from the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Time to Fly, Oasis of Faith, Divine Majesty Ministry, and Unique Travels and Tours, the event highlighted the rising influence of Christian journalism in national conversations.
As ACCoN marks its fifth anniversary, members say the association is evolving beyond reporting church affairs to contributing meaningfully to policy debates on faith, culture, and tourism.