The Knights of St. John International (KSJI), an international solidarity Order of the Roman Catholic Church with headquarters in the United States of America (USA), has elected Prof. Sir Remy Uche to lead the organisation in Nigeria.

Prof. Uche, an acclaimed Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), will head the new leadership of KSJI in Nigeria which emerged during the 2021 Convention of the group held in Enugu.

Prof. Uche was elected the new President of the Order in Nigeria, the Supreme Subordinate Commandery Nigeria (SSCN), with a landslide at a keenly contested but peaceful election at the 2021 Convention of the Supreme Subordinate Commandery, held at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu on November 26, 2021.

Prof. Uche scored a total of 4,003 votes, to beat his closest rival who polled 1,132 votes, while the third placed contestant had 569 votes.

Prof. Uche, currently the Director of Public Procurement Research Centre of FUTO, was until his election, the Grand President of Owerri Grand Commandery of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI).

With his election, Prof. Uche now holds the rank of a Major-General and an automatic membership of the Supreme Board of the Order, the Supreme Commandery Board. He leads over 10,000 men and women who belong to the Order in Nigeria.

Others elected with him are Sir (Brg. Gen.) Evarist Uba, 1st Vice Supreme Subordinate President; Sir (Brg. Gen.) Terence Onyejiaku, 2nd Vice Supreme Subordinate President; Sir (Brg. Gen.) Cletus Idonsiet-Nton, Supreme Subordinate Secretary; Sir (Col.) Solomon Obeakaeme, Treasurer; Sir Steve Ekweleibe, 1st Trustee; and Sir Paul Onyenekwu, 2nd Trustee.

With his election Maj. Gen. Uche became the 6th Supreme Subordinate Commandery Nigeria President of the Order. He succeeded Maj. Gen. Mike Ikon.

Prof. Uche promised to run a transparent, all-inclusive administration and to showcase an exemplary quality leadership with lots of rebuilding, transformation and innovations for the good of the Order and its members in Nigeria.

The election was held under the transparent supervision of Bishop Michael Apochi of Oturkpo Catholic Diocese of Benue State as the Chairman of the Convention and Returning Officer for the election.

He was dutifully assisted by two former Spiritual Directors of the Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Obasi of the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu and Rev. Fr. Charles Bassey.

The convention commenced with a Holy Mass, celebrated by Bishop Apochi, who, later in his opening speech in the Convention, exhorted KSJI members in the country to display the spirit of love, kindness, tolerance, forgiveness and togetherness in their dealings with one another while leading exemplary lives to the entire world, just as Jesus Christ did.

The Prelate called for a peaceful and reconciliatory convention which he described as a turning point in the history of KSJI in the country.

The Bishop blessed the new officers and enjoined them to pursue peace, true love, reconciliation and rededication in their leadership of the Order.

Chief of Staff to the Supreme Subordinate President Nigeria (SSPN), Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, said in a statement that the tenure of the new leadership of the Order would elapse in 2025, after four years.

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