The Kwara State Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisira yesterday advised the 2014 prospective pilgrims from the state to Israel to be good ambassadors of the country to the Holy Land.

Kisira gave the advice while addressing the intending pilgrims to Israel, Egypt, Rome and Greece at a seminar organised for the pilgrims at Stella Obasanjo Multi-Purpose Hall, Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin.

The seminar which was organised by the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board to provide pilgrims with basic information necessary to put them in the right frame of mind and make their stay in the Holy Land meaningful and rewarding as its theme as 'Pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth'.

The Deputy Governor called on pilgrims to pray for the state and the country while in the Holy Land and use the spiritual journey to develop themselves physically, mentally and spirituality.

Elder Kisira warned the pilgrims to refrain from any act that could tarnish the good image of the state by striving to be good ambassadors of the nation.

While commending the board for the good arrangements, Kisira praised the board's relentless efforts which resulted in unprecedented feat of impressively high number of self-sponsored pilgrims for this year's pilgrimage.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the board, Bishop Afolabi appreciated the effort and good gesture of the state government towards the board despite the slim resources of the state.

Bishop Afolabi noted that out of 478 prospective pilgrims from the state, the local government sponsored 239 pilgrims and the state government has 176 sponsored pilgrims, while the remaining 63 were self-sponsored pilgrims.

The leader of the delegation, the Alofa of Ilofa, HRH Oba Samuel Dada Okinbaloye advised the pilgrims to see the trip as worship not tourism to have the spiritual upliftment attached to the journey.