Mr. Kingsley Ibanichuka of Boys Brigade of Nigeria, has emerged Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria.
The election and the swearing-in ceremony took place at Delta Hotels, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, last weekend.
Mr. Ibanichuka polled 41 voters out of 55 total votes cast, to defeat his opponent, Mr. Bethel Oko-Jaja, the immediate past chairman of the body who scored 13 votes.
Other elected officials include, Mr. Robinson Elechi, Deputy Chairman, Mr. Sofiri Amabebe, Vice chairman, Rivers West, Mr. Josiah, Vice Chairman, Rivers East, Mr. Benson E. Vice chairman, Rivers South East, Barr. Barine Yali, Secretary, Okubiye Sam Tamuno, Assistance Sec, Mr. Afamefuna, Social Sec, Diton Moses, Treasurer, Mr. Anthony Nsirim, Financial Secretary.
Others are, Wokoma A. A. Sele, Welfare Sec, Mr. Kingsley Adonis, Public Relations Officer (PRO) while Mr. Ekiye C. Ekiye is the Internal Auditor.
In his speech, Mr. Marvin Yorbana, the Vice National President, National Youth Council, South-South, while congratulating the newly executive officers noted that Nigerian democracy has matured as the youths election was transparent, free and fair, with losers congratulating the winners and votes were counted.
Mr. Yorbana called on politicians in Nigeria to emulate the youths in their matured conduct of their election as to avoid violence during elections and thanked them for the ‘Outstanding Vice Chairman’ award given to him.
Similarly, Mr. Moses Dick Osotu, the chairman Electoral Committee and Ex-Officio, National Youth Council of Nigeria, who described the election as free and fair, congratulated the new executive for their new assignment and urged them to justify the confidence reposed on them.
Inaugurating the new executive officers, Hon. Owene Wanodi, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth while congratulating the new executive officers, said it is a call to serve, stressing that they should not allow the Rivers youth body to die in their tenure.
The Commissioner recalled Mr. Bethel Oko-Jaja’s tenure as Chairman, describing him as a hard-working man who worked in line with the government policy, which made his administration to be effective and urged the new executive to emulate him.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Kingsley Ibanichuka thanked the youths for the honour done him and others and called on those who lost in the election to join hands with the new executive to move the youth body forward.
He urged his colleagues to embrace everyone, assuring that he will run an open door policy, be a voice to the youths, ensure development of the youths in the state as well as take Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s administration’s policy to the grassroots level.
Ibanichuka said youth restiveness has become part of the society and promised to ensure its control and partner with the private sector to create employment for the unemployed youths in the state.
Similarly Mr. Kingsley Adonis, the PRO said the three-year administration of their tenure will be an active one, stressing that youths in the state will be carried along in the scheme of things.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of Outstanding National Vice Chairman, South-South Youth award to Mr. Marvin Yobana. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
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