The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the 2025 President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ibadan Elite, Mrs. Ibukun Otesile, by gunmen.
Otesile, a mother of two, is the daughter of the Founder and General Overseer of Jesus Is King Ministries, Reverend Olalekan Babatunde.
She was reportedly kidnapped on Thursday night in front of her residence in the General Gas area of Akobo, Ibadan.
Confirming the incident, the Command’s spokesman, Chief Superintendent Adewale Osifeso, said, “Investigation is ongoing, Sir.”
News of the abduction quickly circulated across various social media platforms.
Olamide Olanrewaju, Personal Assistant to Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, the outgoing Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the association received a distress alert at about 8:45 p.m. on Thursday.
“We all have a WhatsApp group, which her father is also a member of. The CAN Chairman posted it as a distress call, saying the daughter of Reverend (Dr.) Lekan Babatunde had been kidnapped,” he said.
He added that while members immediately resorted to prayers, they also notified key security contacts, including Rev. Moses, Chaplain of the Police Force Headquarters in Oyo State, before sharing the alert widely.
“I learned she was kidnapped right at the gate of her house at General Gas. Only God knows what she was doing there, where she went, or who she was with,” he noted.
The alert issued by CAN read, “The daughter of our beloved Reverend Dr. Lekan Babatunde was kidnapped this night, Thursday, December 4, around 8:00 p.m. Ibukun Otesile, a mother of two, was kidnapped in front of her gate at General Gas, Akobo.”
The association appealed to security agencies for urgent intervention, calling on the Nigerian Army Headquarters and the Nigeria Police Force to deploy all necessary resources to secure her immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no details yet on the identity of the abductors or any ransom demands.
The Junior Chamber International (JCI), Lagos Coral, in collaboration with RGS Worldwide Ltd and Nedville Emergency Medical Services (NEMS), has commissioned a solar-powered borehole in the Tolu community of Olodo-Apapa, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government.
The initiative, tagged Tolu Community Borehole Project: Water is Life, is designed to provide residents with safe, treated water for generations. The project particularly targets women and children, who are most affected by water scarcity.
President of JCI Lagos Coral, JCIN Efemona Ejeh, described the project as a testament to JCI’s commitment to community development. She noted that the organisation’s vision is to empower communities to take action themselves rather than wait solely on government intervention.
“This is who we are and what we do. We can partner with people, government, and stakeholders to solve community needs,” Ejeh said.
She also highlighted other JCI projects, including an *Entrepreneurship Masterclass* aimed at equipping young business owners with the skills to start and sustain their enterprises. The grand finale of the masterclass will hold on September 6 at Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ejeh urged residents to maintain the borehole properly, assuring them that JCI would conduct routine checks to ensure sustainability.
Speaking at the commissioning, Managing Director of RGS Worldwide Ltd, Joseph Osazuwa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to giving back to the community.
“We believe we do business in Lagos, and it’s also part of our social corporate responsibility to provide and support our community from where God is blessing us,” he said.
According to Osazuwa, access to clean water is essential for sustainable development, and the partnership with JCI will help to address the community’s water needs.
“RGS Worldwide Limited is a telecommunication and human resource company that provides services in the area of telecom services, training, and deployment of personnel to work on various sites in Nigeria and seven other African countries,” he explained.
The company has expressed interest in continuing its partnership with JCI and the local government to support the community and provide necessities like treated water.
“Water is life, and without water, we have a lot of diseases, but what we are providing is treated water, and it’s solar-driven, so it’s going to make life easy for people,” Osazuwa emphasized. “
Project Chairperson Tolu Community Borehole, Rachael Emeyazia, said that the project was designed after assessing the needs of the community and bringing stakeholders together to implement a solution.
She noted that the project has been in Inception since the 24th of November 2024 and is now being commissioned on the 30th of August 2025.
Emeyazia added that JCI hopes to continue collaborating with the government and other stakeholders to implement more projects that benefit the community.
Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Olamilekan Akindipe Olu, commended the organisation for the laudable project.
He said the project is a ready-made one that allows people in the community to benefit significantly.
“This is a very great initiative, as we all know that we need to support the local government, and for a body to erect such a laudable project in our local government, it’s something to be happy about.”
“Everyone of us knows that water is life. And we’ve been looking into how to erect good boreholes for our community.”
Akindipe noted that his administration aims to solve the needs of the people of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government.
Baale of Tolu community, Chief Jelili Ajibola commended the JCI Lagos coral for the project, stating that it’s what they’ve been expecting for long in the community.
“Here in Tolu, we have a lot of needs, from water, light, a good road network, but thanks to JCI Lagos, they’ve solved one of our basic needs, and the local government chairman has assured us of roads and others”.
The Community Head assured the organisation of adequate maintenance of the project and also promised to ensure its availability for public use.
Dignitaries present at the commissioning were: Chairman, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Olamilekan Akindipe; President, JCI Lagos Coral, Amb. Efemona Ejeh, Project chairperson, Financial Controller, RGS World Worldwide Limited, Rachael John C. Emeyazia, Executive Vice President, South West JCI Nigeria, JCIN Amb. Akinbode Abitogun, past present JCI Lagos coral (2011), Amb Rotimi Lawal; Baale Tolu Community Jelili Ajibola; CDC Chairman Ismail Jamiu
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria has announced Top 30 nominees for this year’s JCI 10 Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria (TOYP) Programme.
It’s an annual initiative of JCI Nigeria to celebrate young people (18 – 40), who showed remarkable leadership and significant contributions in their fields and communities.
The 30 nominees were shortlisted by KPMG Nigeria, official audit partner for 2025 JCI TOYP Programme, from Top 50 Nominees evaluated by an independent panel of Judges in March and April.
The Top 50 nominees were selected by the jury from 638 entries nationwide during the nomination, which ran in January and February.
Yetunde Oyeyipo, chairperson of 2025 TOYP Committee, said the public voting phase is critical in determining the final Top 10 Honorees as 40 per cent will be allocated to the public votes and 60 per cent to the Judges’ total rating. Voting began at 6.30 pm WAT on July 28, and will close at 11.59 pm WAT on August 6.
The chairperson said the 10 outstanding persons for this 41st edition will be unveiled at a recognition ceremony on August 16 at EKO Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, to mark United Nations International Youth Day.
On significance of this programme at the unveiling, Oluwatoyin Atanda, 2025 President of JCI Nigeria said: “These exceptional individuals are pioneering change, pushing boundaries, and championing innovation across sectors in Nigeria. They embody leadership, service, and commitment to national development. The nominees are not just dreamers, they are doers.”
She hoped some of this year’s Top 10 Honorees will be nominated for global recognition through JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Programme. The 10 in the global programme will be unveiled at JCI World Congress in Tunisia in November.
Since inception, seven Nigerians have been honoured on the global stage – Ray Ekpu (1988), Modupe Osho (1996), Ola Orekunrin (2013), Imrana Buba (2017), Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2017), Jacinta Uramah (2018), and Temie Giwa-Tubosun (2021), all honoured before t40. Indeed, the nominees have shown leadership, innovation, and commitment to change. Their recognition is a testament to the depth of talent, resilience, and impact emerging from Nigeria’s youth, and a reminder of the global possibilities that lie ahead for individuals who dream and take action.
The Junior Chamber International Nigeria, a youth-focused organisation has concluded plans to host the 2025 edition of its flagship programme, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, recently, the chairperson for the 2025 JCI Nigeria TOYP, Yetunde Oyeyipo, informed that the call for nominations for the 2025 edition of the prestigious award opened in December 2024 and will close by February 2025.
Pressed further, she said, the programme honours 10 outstanding young people between the ages of 18 and 40 every year. These individuals exemplify the spirit of the JCI Mission and serve as stellar examples of entrepreneurial spirit and ethical leadership. Whether through business, scientific endeavours, or their impact on society, these young, active citizens turn challenges into opportunities on a local and national level.
She added that nominations will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of Judges to select the Top 30 nominees and confirmed by the audit partners by March 2025.
According to Oyeyipo, the ten categories are business, economic and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment; political, legal, and/or governmental affairs; academic leadership and/or accomplishment; cultural achievement; moral and/or environmental leadership; contribution to children/world peace and/or human rights; humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership; scientific and/or technological development; personal improvement and/or accomplishment and medical innovation.
She disclosed that the winners will also have the opportunity to compete on the global stage with other top 10 of over 50 countries where JCI is present.
She added that seven Nigerians have been privileged to be honoured at the global stage – namely Ray Ekpu (1988), Dr. Modupe Osho (1996), Dr. Ola Orekunrin (2013), Imrana Buba (2017), Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2017), Jacinta Uramah (2018), and TemieGiwa-Tubosun (2021).
Speaking earlier, the National President of JCI Nigeria, Oluwatoyin Atanda, outlined her strategic blueprint for JCI Nigeria members, as well as other partnering organisation.
While acknowledging the efforts of the past leadership of the organisation, Atanda said JCI Nigeria has been shaped by 53 presidents, each leveraging a unique field to carve an extraordinary path for the organisation.
“We will continue to identify partners that we can collaborate with to create lasting impact in our community. And lastly, one of these 8 values would be to ensure that we project Nigeria differently. We make statements, international reach, to ensure that the communications, everything that goes out about our nation is positive. And we as an organisation will keep representing positivity. Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to continue by mentioning the 8 projects for JCI Nigeria for 2025. As I mentioned earlier, we will continue to align our principles to unite government, businesses, and civil societies at the foundation of these initiatives.”
While emphasising the importance of the TOYP programme, she said, “The TOYP of Nigeria Program is a flagship initiative that recognises and celebrates young individuals between the ages of 18 and over who exemplifies leadership in leadership, innovation, and community impact. Positioned as one of the most credible organisations in Nigeria, JCI Nigeria will partner with different public organisations to ensure their transparency and will foster trust. The TOYP Program so far has honored over 380 national winners and seven international recipients.”
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, Southwest Area, is to hold a training for youths from at Ilaji Resorts, Ibadan, from November 2-5.
In a statement, Tobi Kuti, Southwest director of Communication, said participants would explore four areas of JCI: individual development, business and entrepreneurship, community action, and international cooperation.
Executive Vice President of Southwest Area of JCI Nigeria, Gafar Odubote, said the retreat is opportunity for youths to learn how to become effective leaders.
National President, Attairu Abdullahi, said: “This retreat reviews our activities and upskill members, while also fostering resilience, sustainability, and innovation in the evolving global space.’’
Oluyole President, Kafayat Amoo, added: “We hope participants will leave the retreat with renewed purpose, as we have facilitators and instructors to engage them to expand their horizons.’’
Junior Chamber International, JCI Nigeria President, Adetola Juyitan, has expressed the commitment of the organisation to continuous partnership with youth-based organisations and foreign missions, including corporate bodies, to boost youth empowerment and development.
Juyitan stated this at the unveiling of the group’s six months scorecard at a media parley in Lagos.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Act as one”, she noted that the organisation has designed programmes for enhancing youths’ capacity, particularly leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Determined to nurture innovative skills and talents into rewarding ventures, Juyitan charged youths to seek productive means to contributing to national development.
Providing a background to some of its programmes, the President said: “We have an initiative or a programme, entitled: “Ten Outstanding Young Persons’ (TOYP) in Nigeria” that we carry out every year to encourage people to submit nomination for anyone that they feel strongly have carried out great projects wherever they are. TOYP is a platform that gives young people the opportunity to be seen while also opening doors of opportunities for them globally. Since we started the programme in Nigeria, some of the winners have gone ahead to win at the global stage. Two years ago, we had two people win at the world stage and last year, we had one person.
“Though they may not have been noticed by the government, but they are making waves in their little way. It is interesting to know that a lot of people that we know, such as Linda Ikeji, Rotimi Amaechi, were noticed, identified and rewarded by JCI through this particular programme. We had recognised the impact they were making even before the world got to know much about them. We recently won six awards at a global meet in Mauritius,” she added.
Outlining some of the achievements of JCI Nigeria, Juyitan stated that the organisation has played its role in creating a better society for the youth given its capacity-building programmes. He added that that many young people are involved in governance through political participation was a indication that things are beginning to take a new shape.
She stressed that the organisation would continue to seek support from individuals and organisations to assist it.
“JCI is an organisation that unites all sectors of the society. In all that we do, we do our best to involve the government, those in the business community. We try to cover that area in the course of the year. We have been able to sign up several partnerships. Some are still in the offing; some we have started mining the rewards and benefit. Of course, we have carried out several projects and programmes in the year. We have been involved in courtesy visits to traditional rulers, bank directors, multinational firms, heads of diplomatic missions all in a bid to seek support and partnership and other benefits for our youth,” she said.
Listing some of the upcoming programmes, JCI Nigeria Executive Secretary, Adeyemo Adeonipekun noted that the ‘’advocacy programme on electioneering’’ and the ‘JCI story’ embarked upon by the organisation are classic examples of projects which have had far-reaching impact on the youth for positive cause.
“We are planning to host the International Youth Day, which has been fixed for August 20. There is also the “Lady Mechanic initiative”, where we are expected to train many members. For us, we will continue to initiate programmes that cater for the need of the youth just as we have done on past projects”, he said.
JCI Nigeria, an affiliate of Junior Chamber International, which was founded 62 years ago. It is a non-governmental organisation committed to taking action and creating impact in the society. It has over 100 local organisations (in its City and Collegiate Chapters) and over 5,000 citizens’ membership base.
Also at the event were JCI Nigeria Executive Assistant, Oluwatoyin Atanda and JCI Nigeria Director, National Convention, Adesiji Oyebolu
The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Festac Chapter, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club, Amuwo Main, yesterday organised an election advocacy walk.
The two-hour walk was taken to Agboju, a major market in Festac community. Enthusiastic participants during the walk were seen carrying placards on which different messages were boldly inscribed. Some of the captions read, “ELECTION NO BE WAR”, “YOUR VOTE COUNTS”, “INEC DOES NOT COUNT PRAYER POINTS BUT VOTES”, “VOTE FOR YOUR FUTTURE, DO NOT SELL YOUR VOTE”, and many other instructive messages.
No less than 40 people participated in the walk and they were accompanied by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Festac to ensure a peaceful and violent free walk.
The president of JCI Festac Chapter, Ijeoma Ukpabi, in a chat with The Nation, revealed that as part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) they organised the walk to nudge people in the Festac community to come out and exercise their right to vote, because, according to her, “we discovered that a lot of Nigerians have lost faith in our electoral system and many of them believe that their votes don’t count. We are here to assure them in our little way that their votes do count and they have the power as the electorate to vote whoever they please into power.”
Noting that the campaign isn’t in favour of any party or candidate, Ukpabi said, “We are not here because of any party or candidate for that matter, because some people have been asking us who paid us to do this. Nobody paid us; as you can see, we are dressed in our JCI themed shirts and plain white shirts. This is a walk to encourage people to vote and deter them from being used by politicians for their selfish gains.”
The immediate past president of JCI Festac, Esther Bamisebi, manned the public address system during the walk. As other participants displayed their placards and some shared fliers, Bamisebi tirelessly bellowed into the microphone, “Don’t sell your vote. Don’t sell your future. Your vote counts. Your vote is your voice. Shun election violence. Say no to rigging…”
The project coordinator, Fabian Odiah, on the other hand, urged members of the JCI and Rotaract Club to continue advocating for a free and fair election because, according to him, “our future and the future of generations to come largely depend on our votes.”
The Victoria Island chapter of Junior Chamber International ( JCI ) has launched IpledgeNigeria campaign, an initiative to re-awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to be more committed to nation-building.
The campaign launched on January 1st 2019, will sensitise Nigerians on various activities that will make them to be more positively responsible to the cause of a greater Nigeria.
JCI chapter President, Olamipo Adeola explained the intention of the campaign is to ignite love, passion and responsibility every citizen of Nigeria should be exhibiting.
“I know Nigeria is not where we all want it to be but it’s our Nigeria and we must consciously get involved, else nothing would change,” she charged.
She believes that Nigerians all over the world should join the movement and hold the government accountable.
She reaffirmed the responsibilities and involvement of youths in affairs of the state and politics were very crucial to national development.
“We would be advocating for active youths participation in government at various levels,” she said.
She added “IpledgeNigeria” campaign is taking off strategically at this time the nation is preparing for general elections.
“Citizens will be voting to elect their leaders into various offices and Nigerians must be aware, that with our PVCs, we are responsible for the candidate we elect and how our nation would be for the next four years.
“Citizens will be sensitised on their duties before, during and after the election, as we will be advocating for zero tolerance against violence, vote buying or selling and any act that may hinder a free and fair election.
Adeola noted stakeholders, both in private and public sectors, celebrities, entertainers, passionate citizens will be encouraged and engaged to endorse the initiative and also propagate the agenda of the programme.
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, has announced the names of the 10 young personalities who have emerged award honorees of the 2018 edition of the annual JCI 10 Outstanding Young Persons (JCI TOYP) of Nigeria Awards.
The honorees were selected for various categories of the awards including Personal Improvement and Accomplishment, Academic Leadership and Accomplishments, Medical Innovations, Scientific and Technological Development, among others.
Notable among the list of honorees are Oluseun Onigbinde, co-founder of BudgIT – a civil start-up that has brought more openness and transparency in governance and Kechi Okwuchi, one of the two survivors of the Sosoliso plane crash, who earned a first class degree in the University of Thomas Houston, Texas, despite horrific burns.
While Onigbinde emerged top in the Political, Legal and Government Affairs category, Okwuchi won in the personal improvement and accomplishment category.
Others are: Stanley Arinze, Omowunmi Ogunrotimi, Dr. Charles Immanuel Akhimien, Caleb Adebayo, Nasir Yammama, Reginald Aziza, Jacinta Uramah and John Oluwadero.
This announcement comes after months of what the Chairperson for the award initiative, Oluwatoyin Atanda, described as a rigorous and thorough selection process.
“The 10 finalists that were shortlisted meet all requirements stipulated and are well deserving of the prestigious awards,” she said.
The Junior Chamber International, Ikeja, has rolled out its programmes for the year 2018 tagged Much Action Less Talk (MALT). Speaking at a press briefing, the president, JC Ligali Oluwatosin, said the JCI Ikeja will begin the year with its annual quality leadership seminar followed by the individual development seminar, innovation and enterprising seminar for starts up.
JC Ligali explained that the projects for this year will include a tech academy for students within ages of 13 and 17 scheduled to hold in April. It will be followed by the clean-up exercise; let’s do it Nigeria and the “Big Broda” project which is geared towards giving back to the society.
