By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
A renowned philanthropist, Chief David Sabo Kente, has been conferred with the honorific chieftaincy title of “Zege-Igba-U-Tiv”, (Great kinsman of the Tiv) by the Tiv Area Traditional Council.
The ceremony took place, Saturday, at the JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko, Benue State, with his wife Chief Mrs. Esther Kente receiving the title of Ichivir-I- Zege- Igba.
Kente, known for his humility and compassion contested the 2023 governorship election under the platform of the the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba state and also the founder DSK Foundation; an NGO promoting peace and development.
His organization has championed peace efforts in the North East, carried out community works through drilling of boreholes, building bridges, supply of drugs to health centres, free medical outreaches and care for the vulnerable both in Benue, Taraba and beyond.
Professor Ayatse, after conferring the title on Chief Kente, in a remark said the Tiv Area Traditional Council nominated the honoree as a result of his contributions in the area of philanthropy, peace efforts and community development.
” On behalf of the Tiv Area Traditional Council, I urge you the “Zege-Igba- U-Tiv”, (Great Kinsman of the Tiv) to continue the good works which has singled you out for this honor,” Ayatse said, advising other Nigerians to emulate Chief Kente in building bridges of peace to ensure ethnic coexistence for development to thrive.
Responding, Chief David Sabo Kente and his wife, on behalf of his family, friends and well wishers across the globe, expressed happiness over the conferment especially that he is the first Jukun son to receive a chieftaincy title in Tiv land, “So, I am very overwhelmed and happy” he said.
Kente recalled that he has received some titles from Tiv in Taraba but considered the title of Zege-Igba-U-Tiv, presented to him by the Tor Tiv, HRM Professor, James Ayatse in Gboko the headquarters of Tiv nation after a thorough and careful selection process by the Tiv Area Traditional Council as an honor he would never take for granted any day, expressing appreciation to the Tiv supreme Assembly for the honor.
He said the honor would translate to building peaceful bridges between the Tiv and Jukun as well as promote physical development to communities of Benue and Taraba states especially along the border.
The Founder of DSK Foundation acknowledged with humility that with the title bestowed upon him by the Tiv, he has become officially an ambassador of peace between the Tiv and Jukun, expressing the belief that to the glory of God, the elevation has added his responsibility to assisting Tiv communities both along the boundary between Benue and Taraba as well as to ensure that peace prevail among them to bring about community development such as drilling of more boreholes, construction of rural bridges among others, something he has done across communities of the state and beyond in the past.
