CYON Decides: Ovuta Emerges Winner with Overwhelming Victory
By Orapine Augustine
In electoral process, described by observers as “free and fair,” Comrade Joseph Ovuta emerged as the new President of the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), Archdiocese of Benin.
The election which took place on Sunday, July 13 at St. Agatha Catholic Church, Benin City, marked the conclusion of Comr. Dove Igeri, who led the organization from 2021 to 2025.
Ovuta, representing Iguobazuwa Deanery, secured a commanding 57 votes out of 60, defeating two other candidates in a contest that was peaceful, transparent, and keenly contested.
Speaking to Veritas in an interview, Comr. Ovuta cleared the air regarding his vision for CYON. “Being a youth and in a country that is not too fair to the youths, I believe the Church has a significant role to play. My strategy is to work with Catholics who are in the public and civil service sectors and those who are engaged in one skill or the other,” he started
“Most of our graduates need employment. My intention is when they are done with their studies, we have them trained to become more employable because some youths are graduates but they are not employable. To change that narrative is to train them and make them more employable, and when that is done, we collaborate with Catholics in the civil service and public sector to see how they can extend a hand in fellowship with these our youths,” he added.
“The first thing is to build trust and trust can be built through transparency in leadership. When you are able to build trust, the youth will naturally follow you and when you gain their followership, the next thing will be to make sure the trust is not bridged.
“One of the things I will be doing is inter-deanery visitation from time to time and also parish to parish, more like interwoven programs bringing parishes together. Once the youths feel carried along, unity will be established.” he concluded
A Peaceful and Lawful Electoral Process
The election was supervised by the CYON Archdiocesan Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Duru who is also the Parish Priest of St Agatha Catholic Church, alongside Chaplain Rev. Fr. Richard Oziokor, Rev. Sr. Martina Umeorah, SSH, Archdiocesan Laity General Secretary, Mr. Julius Emiasegen and many other stakeholders.
Comr. Augustine Okoh, the Electoral Committee Chairman, praised the orderliness of the election, stressing that the entire process was anchored on the CYON constitution.
“As Catholic youths, we are law-abiding and what binds us together is our constitution. We followed due process, right from the screening process. We used our bylaw to guide our screening process and that is why you can see that all the youths are happy because their choice of candidates from the president to provost they chose them themselves. Everything was peaceful. We followed the due process.”
Delegate Reactions
One of the delegates from Abudu Deanery, Emmanuel, confirmed the credibility of the election:
“The electoral process was free and fair because we witnessed the procedures of everything and it was transparent, so I would say the election was free and fair.” He said.
Spiritual Charge from the Chaplain
In order for them to start work with immediate effect, the newly elected executives were inaugurated immediately after the election.
During the inauguration Mass, Fr Duru appreciated the past executives for the works done during their administration and encouraged the new executives to uphold Christian values in their leadership.
“In this new administration, we want to thank you for accepting this responsibility in your various offices. I want to urge you to seek God’s face, to seek integrity, to seek transparency, to seek humility, and to have CYON at heart.
Outgoing President Reflects on Legacy
In his farewell remarks, outgoing CYON President Comrade Dove J.E. Igeri, reflected on his tenure and urged the new administration to complete ongoing projects.
“We have a land at Idokpa where we are building a resource center. We encourage them to continue to push it. We have made some efforts to reach out to people for sponsorship and by the grace of God, we have gone to a point where the Archbishop is endorsing the project so that the next administration will be able to materialize the project.” he said.
Newly Elected CYON Archdiocesan Executives
1. Joseph Ovuta – President (Iguobazuwa Deanery)
2. Omini B.W. Gift – Vice President (Benin City Deanery)
3. Ebuka Kingsley Nwokedi – General Secretary (Benin City Deanery) p
4. Agbakala Damiana Chinazar – Assistant lt (Igubazuwa Deanery)
5. Enuafu Pleasant Alex – Financial Secretary (Abudu Deanery)
6. Ihedioha Mcblaise Ikedi – PRO 1 (Benin City Deanery)
7. Igbineweka Emmanuel Iyota – PRO 2 (Iguobazuwa Deanery)
8. Innocent Egbusim – Provost (Benin City Deanery)
