Training
By Salisu Sani-Idris
Abuja, Sept. 17, 2020 (NAN) The FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board has expressed willingness to partner with the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) on manpower training to enhance the quality of services being rendered to the pilgrims.
Director of the board, Malam Nasiru Danmallam, gave the assurance when the executive members of hajj reporters, paid a courtesy visit to the board, led by its National Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, on Thursday in Abuja.
Danmallam noted that training and retraining of staff was a priority to the board, adding that without well trained staff, the board could not deliver effective services to the pilgrims.
He disclosed that he had inherited a formidable workforce, ” and they are still around and together we will work harder to conduct successful hajj operation in 2021.
The director noted that FCT was the epiccentre of pilgrimage in Nigeria due to the high profile pilgrims that perform Hajj through the territory.
” Most pilgrims in FCT are people who know their left and right, people who know what is due to them and always ask what is due to them.
” FCT pilgrims Welfare board has recorded achievement in the past which is due to the committed hard working staff of the board and by the special grace of God we build on that.
” In fact training and retraining of staff is our priority because if we don’t have a well trained staff there is no how we can deliver effective services to the pilgrimage.
” On behalf of my management, we welcome the idea of partnering with the Independent Hajj Reporters on manpower training of our personnel and we are looking forward to your submission on that, ” Danmallam said.
The director described hajj reporters as a critical stakeholders on Hajj and Umrah industry in the country.
” Since my coming here, Independent Hajj Reporters is the only NGO that is a critical stakeholder on Hajj industry in Nigeria that I have met.
” So for me you represent a critical mass in the coverage of hajj activities in Nigeria because for me you are the only one I know.
” I will consolidate on the existing relationship that you have established with the previous leadership of the board,” he assured.
Earlier, the coordinator of hajj reporters, Muhammad, reiterated the commitment of the NGO to partner with the board and stakeholders in the area of pilgrims enlightenment and education.
He noted that hajj operations as known before would not, and may never remain the same again due to covid 19.
” While the Manasik of Hajj will hardly be altered, the operating system in terms of arrangement, movement, accommodation, protocol, guidelines will be restructured especially if we consider the Hajj 2020 template used by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
” Given the above, it is imperative for us to seek a partnership with the FCT pilgrims’ boards to enlighten and educate Hajj 2021 intending pilgrims and to organise a capacity building workshop for its operating staff.’
He said that the board needs to engage in capacity building for its staff, training and retraining of operational staff for them to be in tune with emerging challenges in hajj operations.
” Develop an Information communication technology-based capacity because Saudi Arabia has now converted the entire hajj activities online,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a registered non-governmental organisation that monitors and reports on Hajj activities both in Nigeria and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
IHR is comprising of Muslim journalists who seek to enlighten Nigerian pilgrims on how to perform acceptable hajj which is the most important pillar of Islam. (NAN)
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