The National Secretary-Elect of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta, Ph.D, has commenced an appreciation tour across the Ijaw nation with an unscheduled visit to the IYC Eastern Zone Extended Executive Council (Exco) meeting held in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the meeting, Igbeta expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and members of the Eastern Zone for their commitment, sacrifices and active participation in the recently concluded 10th National Convention and elections of the Council.
Describing the visit as a mark of appreciation, the National Secretary-Elect acknowledged that while every delegate could not have supported his aspiration during the election, the greatest victory was that of the Ijaw nation.
“The election has come and gone. Everyone could not have voted for me, but what matters most is that the Ijaw Youth Council has emerged stronger and the Ijaw nation has won. We now have a fresh opportunity to build a united Council and write a new chapter founded on trust, cooperation and shared purpose,” he said.
Igbeta stressed that the responsibility now rests on members of the newly elected 10th National Executive Council (NEC) to preserve the unity of the Council and build a lasting legacy that accommodates every interest across the Ijaw nation.
According to him, the appreciation visit to the Eastern Zone marks the beginning of a wider tour that will see him visit all IYC zones and chapters to personally thank members for their support, encouragement and belief in the vision of a united Ijaw nation.
He also paid tribute to Ijaw leaders who devoted their time throughout the electioneering period to engage aspirants, describing their commitment as a demonstration of sacrifice and dedication to the progress of the Ijaw people.
Igbeta further conveyed the message of the IYC President, Dr. Doubara Okotete, assuring members that the new leadership is committed to inclusive governance and will lead with fairness, justice and unity of purpose.
He expressed confidence that the 10th NEC under the leadership of Dr. Okotete would justify the confidence reposed in it by Ijaw youths through transparent, people-oriented and unifying leadership.
The Eastern Zone leadership welcomed the National Secretary-Elect and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the new national leadership in advancing the ideals and objectives of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide.