- Ekwem emerges President as Otiono bows out
A new set of executives have been elected to stir the ship of the Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organization of Nigeria (LACMON), with Barr. Lawrence Ekwem, former Deanery Coordinator of the Lekki Deanery emerging President. At a keenly contested election held recently at Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos, Barr. Ekwem defeated his closest opponent, Mr. Obinna Amaechina who was before now the Vice President under Barrister Otiono whose tenure elapsed after four years of meritorious service to LACMON.
Prince Anthony Kunle Oyekanmi the Deanery Coordinator for Ijede Deanery emerged as the Deputy President, having defeated his closest rival, Mr. Felix Ajayi, Deanery Coordinator of Surulere Deanery. For the first, time in the history of LACMON, the position of four Vice Presidents from each of the four regions that make up the Lagos Archdiocese was introduced for ease of administration. The same also was the introduction of the offices of four public relations officers, one from each region.
The following were elected Vice Presidents: Prince Taiwo Oyeniyi (Ikeja Region); Mr. Noble Jude Imah (Badagry Region); Igwe Damian (Lagos Region) and Mr. Chima Echendu (Lekki Region). Other elected officers drawn from the twenty Deaneries of the Archdiocese were; Prof. Emma Onah – General Secretary (Maryland Deanery); Sir Francis Elumeze – Assistant General Secretary – (Satellite Deanery); Mr. Charles Ireroa, FCAF – Financial Secretary (Surulere Deanery); Comrade Sola Williams Tokede – Assistant Financial Secretary (Iba Deanery); Mr. Emmanuel Okafor – Treasurer (Yaba Deanery). Also elected were Chief Stephen Ezeifula – LACMON PRO; Mr. Temitayo Paul-Ajah – PRO (Lekki Region); Mr. Romanus Agbaka (Ijanikin) – Welfare Officer 1 and Barr. Jonathan Igwubor (Ikorodu) Provost 1. The outgone President, Barrister Vincent Otiono, and the outcome Secretary, Mr. Segun Lawrence will serve as Ex Officio.
Earlier at the Annual General Meeting which preceded the election, Barr. Vincent Otiono, while giving his valedictory speech said he was handing over a total sum of twenty-seven million, seven hundred naira in LACMON’s bank accounts which includes funds generated from members’ Life Insurance policy, dues, sales of uniforms, amongst others. While thanking all for the support given to him and his executives over the past four years, he urged the incoming executives to improve on the enviable brand that LACMON has turned out to become in the past four years through focused leadership and accountability, prompt payment of Life Insurance Premium, improved welfare for members, amongst others.
The peaceful election which saw the active participation of 200 delegates from the 20 Deaneries of the Archdiocese was supervised by LACMON Chaplain Very Rev. Fr. Francis Ike, in the company of the Director of Lay Apostolate Centre, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Ibe and the Episcopal Vicar for Ikeja Region, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Fadairo.
