A philanthropist and political heavy weight, 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.
Chief Sabo Kente was among the Nigerians honoured last Saturday at the JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko Benue State with his wife Chief Mrs. Esther Kente who received the title of Ichivir-I- Zege- Igba.
Kente was the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State even as he is also the Founder, DSK Foundation, an NGO that promotes peace and development.
DSK Foundation has championed peace efforts in the North East and has carried out community service 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.
During the ceremony, the Tor Tiv, Professor Ayatse, after conferring the title on Chief Kente disclosed that the Tiv Area Traditional Council nominated Chief Kente as a result of his contributions in the areas of philanthropy, peace efforts and community development.
Tor Tiv urged the “Zege-Igba- U-Tiv”, (Great Kinsman of the Tiv) to continue the good works which have singled him out for this honour and counseled other Nigerians to emulate Chief Kente in building bridges of peace to ensure the corporate existence of Nigeria and for development to thrive.
Chief David Sabo Kente during the conferment of the Zege-Igba-U-Tiv”, (Great kinsman of the Tiv) on him and his wife Ichivir-I-Zege-Igba expressed happiness over the conferment especially that his is the first Jukun son to receive a chieftaincy title in Tiv land, saying he was overwhelmed with joy.
Kente revealed that he had 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 honour he would never take for granted any day, expressing appreciation to the Tiv supreme Assembly for the honour.
He assured that the honour 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 noted with humility that with the title, he has become an ambassador of peace between the Tiv and Jukun pointing out that 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 prevails 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.
Kente appreciated the Begha- U- Tiv,HRM, Professor, James Ayatse and the entire Tiv Area Traditional Council, for the honour on behalf of his wife Ichivir-I-Zege-Igba, Chief Esther Kente, expressed strong beleif that with the honour done him by the Tiv nation,he would do more.
