The Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Joshua Nwafor has commended the National Association of Ebonyi State Students (NAESS) Worldwide for its 2023/2024 election held on Monday at Unity Square, Abakaliki.
Nwafor who was a Special Guest during the election, described the exercise as a very peaceful one and charged the newly elected officers to work together in actualizing the dreams of the Association In the state and beyond.
"I'm grateful to God for the success of this election. Over 10 years ago, NAESS has been struggling to have a stable leadership, to lead this Association to a greater level.
"By God's special grace, today, we have got the leadership that will drive the process of giving students scholarships, and bursaries and taking care of their general welfare across the local government areas of the state," Nwafor said.
He further expressed optimism that the new leadership of the NAESS would support the Ebonyi State government led by Governor Francis Nwifuru; while emphasizing the need for youth in national development.
He also urged both the elected and unelected officials of the Association to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship till the tenure of this NAESS leadership elapsed.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Comrade Ignatius Okoro declared Collins Ndubuisi Ogbonna the President-elect of the Association for having pooled 153 votes to defeat his opponent, James Nwebonyi who scored 2 votes at the exercise.
The ELECO Chairman also announced that Okenu Solomon emerged as the Director of Contact and Mobilisation with 87 votes to outweigh his rival - Nwaji Emmanuel who got 69 votes.
He equally announced that John Nnanna got 188 votes to emerge as the Director of the Programme and Partnership of the Association while his opponent, Itumo Theophilus scored 35 votes.
He said some executive officers were returned unopposed alongside 24 out of 26 Senatorial members who were returned unopposed.
In his acceptance speech, the NAESS President-elect, Comrade Collins Ndubuisi Ogbonna commended the members of NAESS for finding him worthy to serve in that capacity.
He assured the NAESS officials and members of carrying them along, maintaining that he would use his office to ensure Ebonyi students support the state government under the watch of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
