By Onoriode Etatsemi
WARRI/Nigeria: The National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-South Zone, under the leadership of her Chairman, Comr. Amb. Okorie Kenneth, while marking this year’s World International Youth Day, has bestowed a certificate of excellence on the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, DESOPADEC, Chief Barr. John Obukohwo Nani.
The Youth Council deemed it fit to award Barr. John Nani the meritorious award because of his contributions towards the development and empowerment of youths in the in Delta State and the South-South.
According to the National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-South Chairman, Comr. Amb. Okorie Kenneth, Chief John Nani has affected the lives of youths within and across Delta State. He said:
“We deemed it fit to honour you for your good works which is evident in the Delta State, the South-South and even beyond. Diamond does not need to announce itself to the world that it is diamond, merely looking at it, you will know that it is diamond. Sir, your your humanitarian services is known all over Delta State and beyond.”
Comr. Amb. Okorie Kenneth, while addressing Chief John Nani, drew his attention to the fact that the Secretariat of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-South, has been in Benin City, but since he became the Chairman, the Secretariat has to be relocated to Delta State, hence the Youth Council, needs assistance from individuals, patrons and the government to ensure the dream becomes a reality.
He also made it known that the body needs a bus for movement of their members from place to place. Moreover, Comr. Okorie, informed Chief Nani, that one of the activities of the Youth Council is to organize programmes through which they will sensitize the youths on the need to shun political thuggery, violence, sexual abuse, rape, drug addiction, cultism and examination malpractice.
He also used the medium to appeal to the EDFA for financial or moral support towards the actualization of their dreams. Thereafter, the body then installed Chief Barr. John Nani as a Patron of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-South Zone.
Chief Barr John Nani, responding, after the installation as Patron and receiving the award, first and foremost appreciated his boss, the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, who gave him the leverage to serve the state, as former
Commissioner for Environment and now the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, DESOPADEC.
According to him, without the water in the river, the fish cannot exercise its prowess as a good swimmer.
Chief John Nani, also thanked the Executives and members of the Youth Council for counting him worthy to receive the award and to also make him a Patron. He went further to state that he is ever ready to work with the youths of the nation, and for him to be effective in working with the them, he has to identify with them, hence, making him a Patron has offered him another platform to contribute more to the human and capital development of our youths.
He enjoined the Youth Council to know that the youths are not just leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today pointing out that he is in full support of youths taking leadership positions across the nation.
According to him, all the leaders at the helm of affairs of the nation today, whether President, Governors, or legislators, started when they were youths. Therefore, it will be an aberration for anybody to say that the youths are too young to hold leadership position in the nation.
He also promised to give the Youth Council his support as it has been his custom, most especially since he is already a member of the Council by virtue of the position vested upon him. According to him, he is already in the ‘boat’ of the Youth Council, and at such, he will not allow the boat to capsize, knowing fully well that the chief captain of the boat is the Almighty God.
Present at the installation and award ceremony were some of the Executives and members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-South Zone and Delta State Chapter, Comr. Johnson Okpoh, Personal Assistant to EDFA, Comr. Sagboje Odiri Milton, Principal Secretary to the EDFA, Mr. Sunday Adjamukwa, Comr. Osika Vincent Ogheneovo, Personal Aide (Print Media) to the EDFA, DESOPADEC Media Team, and other Staff of the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, DESOPADEC.
