Mr. Okon Okon, (right) receiving certificate of installation from the President of Boys’Brigade Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Council, Sir Godfrey Bartepeh.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Council, has installed Mr. Okon Okon, Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS, as her patron.
Mr. Okon was installed alongside the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Dean College of Commissioners Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Glory Edet.
The decoration and installation of Mr. Okon Okon, as Patron of the Boys’ Brigade was performed by the Akwa Ibom state President of the organisation, Sir Godfrey Bartepeh, supported by the National Secretary of the Boys’ Brigade, Mr. Adamu Malgwi and the Akwa Ibom State Secretary Organiser, Mr. Inyang Idiongette.
The event held at Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Itiam Etoi, Uyo, was attended by the National President of the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Sir Sunday Nwosu, and witnessed by the Methodist Archbishop of Uyo, His Grace, Most Rev. Chemezuo Nwankpa, top government functionaries, captains of industries, old state patrons, officers and members of the Boys’ Brigade in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Okon Okon, who said he was a member of the Boys’ Brigade during his secondary school days thanked the state leadership of the Boys’ Brigade for giving him opportunity to serve in a higher capacity in the organisation.
“I am very familiar with the ideals of the Boys’ Brigade, particularly in instilling discipline in the boy child. I served in the Boys’ Brigade during my secondary days; I am glad to be given opportunity to serve again.
“I thank the leadership of the Boys’ Brigade for giving me opportunity to serve in a higher position in the organisation. We will continue to encourage the Boys’ Brigade to keep up with the task of instilling discipline in our young boys”, he said.
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The certificate of installation presented to Mr. Okon Okon, by the Boys’ Brigade states that his appointment as patron is in recognition of his “outstanding commitment to the development of humanity and towards the ‘advancement of Christ Kingdom among boys and the promotion of habitsnof obedience, reverence, discipline, self respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness’.”
R-L: Mr. Okon Okon, Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Glory Edet and the National Secretary of Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Mr. Adamu Malgwi after Okon Okon was installed patron of Boys’ Brigade, Akwa Ibom State Council.
Speaking with reporters, the National President of Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Sir Sunday Nwosu, hinted that he is pleased with the number of young boys who are members of the Brigade in Akwa Ibom State.
Sir Nwosu said having a large number of boys joining the brigade will help to instill discipline and good moral behaviour as well as raise Godly male children.
“We take the boys through anchor, grow them through the ranks to an officer. Within that period, it is expected that you become obedient to the culture of the church and a culture of a good church is the culture of Christ. Christ was never a thief, He was never a cultist, so that is the weapon we use in ensuring that our boys grow in the fear of God.”
“Let all of us believe in Christ and do things in the ways of Christ so that we will be blessed”, Sir Nwosu charged.
The Boys’ Brigade founded in 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith, is a foremost voluntary youth organisation in Nigeria working towards the advancement of God’s kingdom among boys and vices especially cultism.
