By Uchenna Eletuo

Centenary celebration in Badagry by the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Society has given boost to tourism in the ancient city and made it a pilgrimage destination.

Two local government chairmanship candidates in Lagos State, Mr Ajose Peter-Kumayon and Mr Babatunde Hunpe, made the remarks in Badagry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that council elections in Lagos State have been scheduled for July 12.

Peter-Kumayon and Hunpe, APC candidates for Olorunda Local Council Development Area and Badagry Local Government Area respectively, were guests at the centenary celebration.

They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the event tagged 100 years of celestial vision.

The event had the theme, “Who Shall I Send?”.

It attracted participants from across the country to the society’s Badagry Prayer Arena.

Peter-Kumayon said that the celebration was positioning Badagry more as a place where religious groups would come for pilgrimage/tourism.

He noted that there were still relics of early missionary artifacts in Badagry.

“Over there is the first place Christmas was celebrated in Nigeria, the first Church in Nigeria is situated there, the chapel where Bible was first translated from English to Yoruba Language is somewhere there.

“The miracle well dug by early missionaries, which water is useful for cure of illnesses, is not far from here,” he said.

He noted that the first story building in Nigeria was in Badagry.

“Those were some of the antiquities with a serene environment that made Badagry unique and a pilgrimage destination,” he said.

On his part, Hunpe said that Badagry was noted for propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He said that Badagry people had continued to preserve the relics so that generations would experience them in their original forms.

He praised C&S Society for choosing Badagry for the centenary celebration, saying that hotels and resorts made brisk businesses from the event.

“Sellers of indigenous commodities such as coconut, fish, fruits and crafts smiled to the bank,” he said.

NAN reports the C&S Society offered prayers for Nigeria’s peace during the celebration.

It also prayed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Earlier in a sermon, Bishop Oluwademilade Akapata admonished members of the church to remain steadfast in faith and refrain from sin.

Akapata said that the church members should please God and build on the legacies of the founders of the church.

NAN reports that the event ended with ordination of some persons by the leadership of the church. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola