A look at the JCI Website www.jci.cc indicates it is a truly international organization but with local and national impacts. JCI has partnerships with such reputable international organizations as; International Chamber of Commerce – World Chamber Federation (ICC-WCF), United Nations Foundation Nothing But Nets Campaign, UN Millennium Campaign, United Nations and the UN Development Goals, United Nations Global Compact, Pan American Health Organization, UNESCO and runs joint projects with these and other partners. JCI in their member countries also have similar partnerships with a number of other organizations.
JCI is a one year to lead organization. That means for every office you hold, you hold for only one year. There is no such thing as second tenure and this is an example of what selfless service should be.
The JCI Presidency is one that every member country aspires to experience and exercise. The holder of such office works with a team to continue to advance the mission of JCI but very importantly, he is an Ambassador of his country to the world. He is a role model to the young people of his country and the world as he will travel around the world to motivate, inspire and challenge members and young people to take more actions to better themselves and better their communities. He will oversee JCI’s work for a better and peaceful world by making better leaders, better innovative entrepreneurs, better citizens, people who carry out various projects to address community challenges. It is therefore a great pride to the country, its Government and its youths as the individual becomes a true example of a Nigerian Citizen in the eyes of the world.
It is true that no Nigerian has ever been elected JCI President, but the good news is that there is a golden opportunity to change that.
Junior Chamber International in Nigeria has nominated one of her own Paschal Dike as candidate for 2016 JCI World President during the JCI World Congress which will hold in the city of Kanazawa, Japan from November 3-8, 2015.
Over 10,000 delegates from more than 100 countries will be attending the Congress. This therefore is a Nigerian project that has to be realized. It is the opportunity to break the long existing jinx and see Nigeria’s flag fly high.
If elected, Paschal will travel around the world (about 50 countries and a number of other events) spreading the message of JCI to young people in their communities, meeting partners (Governments, Corporate Organization and other not for profits), working with members in projects and other civic engagements.
As the build up to the 2015 JCI World Congress gathers momentum, this is the time for all well-meaning individuals, Corporate Organizations, Government, NGOs and other civic organization to wish Paschal Dike and JCI Nigeria well and step up to support this Nigerian project. JCI’s presence in 124 countries, 5000 cities and communities with 200,000 active members and over 10million alumni provides an extensive reach. We need to share this with as many people as possible on our various communication platforms and hope that Paschal’s story will serve as a source of inspiration for other young Nigerians that hard work, patience, commitment and consistency are necessary ingredients to achieve their goals even before the goals actually come to fruition.
Paschal holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Microbiology. His professional career however spans over 10 years and cuts across entertainment, investigation and background checks, training and facilitation, coaching, fire safety and security systems. He is a member of a number of other professional organizations, a better community advocate, public speaker, trainer and coach. However, for the purposes of his nomination, let us look specifically at his career within JCI.
Paschal joined JCI as a student member in 1997 and became a University chapter President at the University of Uyo in 1998. In 1999, he was Vice Chairman supervising JCI members and activities in tertiary institutions in South South and South East Nigeria. He was elected 2001 Collegiate Chairman which saddled him with the responsibility overseeing JCI activities in all Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria where they exist. After graduating from University, Paschal joined a professional Chapter in Port Harcourt in 2003 and served as Local President in 2004.
In 2005, Paschal was National Vice President and National Executive Vice President in 2006 where he was in charge of all JCI activities in South West Nigeria which included Professionals and student members. He was elected and served as the youngest National President of JCI Nigeria in 2008. Nominated by JCI Nigeria, Paschal was elected 2009 International Vice President of JCI assigned to Seven African countries of Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda. The year 2011 saw Paschal take charge of growth of JCI in existing countries and expansion into countries where JCI was yet to take root. Nominated again by JCI Nigeria as candidate during the 2011 JCI World Congress in Brussels, he was elected and served as 2012 International Executive Vice President assigned to Africa and the Middle East. In this capacity, Paschal supervised four Vice Presidents overseeing JCI in 34 African countries and also chaired the 2012 JCI Africa and Middle East Conference in Casablanca, Morocco.
He was appointed UN Affairs and External Relations committee member in 2013 and was Chief Executive Assistant to JCI World President in 2014. Currently, Paschal serves as 2015 General Legal Counsel of JCI, the first of such appointment.
Paschal has been awarded locally, nationally and internationally for his little contributions including most outstanding JCI Nigeria Executive Vice President 2006, 2012 JCI most outstanding Executive Vice President, 2013 most outstanding Appointee and 2014 Presidential Award of Excellence. He has travelled to 35 countries training, motivating and promoting youth related initiatives.
Back here in Nigeria, Paschal has led a number of youth engagement initiatives; from coaching, to academies, entrepreneurial development, motivational speaking, community engagements and projects.
