The President of the Junior Chamber International,JCI Asaba Chapter ,Uti Inyang has called on youths to shun all forms of electoral violence as the nation approaches it’s general elections come February 25 and March 11,2023.
Inyang who made the call while speaking on a live Radio programme “Radio Guest on Voice Of Delta 97.9FM Asaba”,Delta Broadcasting Service said youths must refrain from being used by selfish political actors to cause mayhem.
He said it was worrisome that youths who ought to be meaningfully engaged are being used as political thugs by selfish politicians who will ordinarily not engage their children for such jobs.
Inyang who advised youths to advocate for better political positions that can better their lives and the society rather than settle for thuggery said it was not forbidden for youths to be commissioners, board members and legislators.
He identified idleness as one of the major set backs of youths hence they are easily cajoled to engage in social vices and appealed to them to have progressive mindset and meaningfully engage themselves in productive ventures as no society can be better without better people .
On the collection of permanent voter cards PVC’s, the Asaba Chapter JCI President appealed to all eligible voters who are yet to collect theirs to do so in order to be able to perform their civic rights on election day.
He said the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC will not count prayer points but PVC’s hence the need for all eligible voters to make sacrifices to collect their permanent voter cards .
While noting that PVC’s will answer more to competent leaders than prayer points, Inyang described PVC’S as weapon capable of making political changes for a better society.
He called on INEC to decentralize the collection of PVC’S and engage volunteers to help distribute the cards as it would be a national loss for government to spend billions of naira to print the voter cards and yet people are unable to collect theirs.
Inyang who is the 27th President of JCI Asaba Chapter said the body was a youth based non governmental organizations with a mission to provide leadership development opportunities to create positive changes in the society.
He said the four thematic areas of focus for the JCI include community impact, international cooperation,individual development and entrepreneurial development opportunities adding that the JCl had presence in 120 countries of the world.
Inyang disclosed that JCI Asaba Chapter will be hosting the Officers Training School OTS for the South South and South East geopolitical zones from the 20th to 22nd of January with renowned personalities from across the world as trainers in different thematic areas.
He observed that the OTS was last hosted by Delta in 2017 when he was a collegiate president in the University of Benin,Edo State noting that the training affords members the opportunity to interact, exchange ideas and build friendship across board.
Inyang said the theme for this year’s programme of the local organisation was iLead….. innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship,advocacy and development adding that some programmes have been outlined to be executed in 2023 such as entrepreneurship development for females,mental health awareness for selected secondary school and hosting of a sports event among others.
He called on youths particularly from the age bracket of 18 -40 years to join the JCI because of the inherent benefits such as training opportunities within and outside the country, leadership development and business opportunities as the organization provides the platform for members to push beyond their limits.
Inyang noted that the JCI have produced great leaders in the world such as former president of the United States of America,John F.Kennedy, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Reginald Bayoko,Head of Service of Delta State among several others .
Uti Inyang, a JCIN Ambassador was inaugurated as President of the Local Organisation in December 2022.
Other members of the executive include,the immediate Past President,Patience Oyibocha, Chineye Ogbodo,Vice President,Nancy Nwabua, Secretary,Talent Ubong, Treasurer and Pere Botu,Director of Communication and Public Relations Officer.