Sandra Ekene Emefuaye Takes Over As JCI Nigeria, President

It was a moment of accomplishment for JC Sandra Ekene Efemuaye as she took over as head of the Nigerian chapter of the Junior Chamber International, JCI.

The change of guard took place in a ceremony in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Saturday.

JC Efemuaye, a Soil Science graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is succeeding JC Attahiru Bala Abdulahi and will run the affairs of the international youth organization over the 2024 leadership year. 

In a statement shortly before her investiture, Efemuaye promised to unfold a new vista for the organization, part of which is to open more ground in its engagement with Nigerians, business community, and governments, both at the national and sub national levels. 

In the main, JC Efemuaye said her leadership will engage policy makers more proactively. This, she said, is with a view to opening up more youth engaging opportunities both for leadership growth and general development.

According to her, JCI will activate all requisite mechanisms to create enabling opportunities for the country's teeming youths in a manner that will positively engage them in productive ventures as, governments alone cannot provide employment for everyone. 

"We will be integrating a more robust engagement policy particularly with the ministry of Youths and Sports, both at the federal and state levels to see how we can work together in empowering youths with the necessary skills they require in a changing world. This is post Covid with many skills out there. Certainly, if the youths are empowered, I'm sure we will have a better Nigeria. They cannot just rely on governments to provide jobs," she said. 

Efemuaye disclosed that under her leadership, JCI Nigeria will pay closer attention to its engagement with private sector and civil societies by entering into strategic partnership with them, aimed at engaging Nigerian youths more productively. 

"JC will focus attention in partnership with the private sector, civil society organization and other youth-related agencies and parastatals across board to engage youths on the need to see the importance of owning the country. We can't all leave. We will encourage them to get the necessary knowledge and skills, come back home to develop Nigeria," she noted, referring to the now notorious 'Japa' syndrome that has seen more Nigerian youths going abroad as the country’s economic malaise takes more tolls.

"We will be focusing attention on the positive sides. There will be challenges but we are optimistic by drawing out and encouraging the spirit of patriotism in our youths both at home and in the diaspora, on the need to build a new Nigeria," she promised. 

Meanwhile, the group also employed the investiture night to honour its past leaders. The initiative, according to the immediate past President, JC Abdullahi, is part of the group’s drive to tap from their experience to evolve a new development chapter for both the organization and Nigerian youths. He added that more than ever before, the group is determined to engage governments and other relevant stakeholders towards communicating ideas and strategic policy implementation plans for the good of Nigerians. 

JCI President, 2019, Adetola Akinola, who also doubled as chairperson, Award Committee, explained that the idea behind the award is based on the belief that it is impossible for any group to successfully move forward without knowing where it is coming from.

According to her, JC is going back in time to its foundation to find out how it got the group to where it is currently.

"We are going back to where are coming from, to find out how we got to where we are before planning for where we are going. We think it is the most appropriate place to start," she pointed out. 

JCIs Senator Bola Adewunmi, Senator Ronke Ogunremi, Senator Gabriel Idahosa, Senator Paschal Dike,  Senator Adekunbi Wuraola,S enator Banjo Okunuga, Senator Moses Kadeer, Senator Idowu David, Senator Peter Buba and Anthony Iyoghojie were among those honoured. 

Others include JCIs Senator Tony Abolo, Senator Isaac Bajomo, Senator Ola Otunla, Senator Victor Ndalugi and Senator Tunde Oshobi.