JCI Set to Unveil, Honour 10 OutstandingYouths

Uchechukwu Nnaike

For excelling in their chosen fields and creating positive change in the society, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria is set to honour 10 young persons under the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (JCI TOYP) programme.

The 10 outstanding persons will emerge from among the top 30 outstanding young persons, who were selected after a rigorous process by a panel of judges comprising past honourees and prominent members of the society.

Speaking during the unveiling of the top 30 persons, the 2018 JCI TOYP Chairperson, Oluwatoyin Atanda said more than 1,800 nominations were received by members of the public, which was reduced to the top 50 and later to 30. She said the 10 outstanding young persons would be determined by the public through voting, which is currently on at www. toyp.jci.ng/voting and will end on April 29. The winners will be honoured in August.

According to her, the honourees motivate their peers to seek excellence and serve others. “Their stories of discovery, determination and ingenuity inspire young people to be better leaders and create better societies.”

On the criteria for nomination, she said the nominees must be within the ages of 18 and 40 and each nominee must be entered in one of the 10 categories: Business, economic and or/entrepreneurial accomplishment; political, legal accomplishment; academic leadership and/or accomplishment; cultural achievement; moral and/or environmental accomplishment; contribution to child, world peace and/or human rights; humanitarian and/ or voluntary leadership; scientific and/or technological development; personal improvement and/or accomplishment; and medical innovation.

In his remarks, a member of the Panel of Judges for the 2018 JCI TOYP, Prince Lekan Fadina, who is a past honouree, said it is always a thing of delight to see those coming behind carry the banner and continue where the elder ones stopped.

He called on JCI to create a platform or what he described as a knowledge society where all the ideas of the honourees would be put together for the benefit of the society and to nurture discipline among youths.

Some past honourees include include Rt. (Hon.) Rotimi Amaechi, Richard Mofe Damijo, Ibukun Awosika, Femi Kuti, Gbenga Sesan, Kanu Nwankwo, Kafayat Shafau, Linda Ikeji, Japheth Omojuwa, among others.