Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has stated he’s decided to go away lasting legacies in infrastructure improvement as he considers it a uncommon privilege to manipulate the state.
Diri acknowledged this on Saturday throughout a gala evening organised by the state authorities in honour of members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors on the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Corridor in Yenagoa.
The occasion rounded off the three-day twentieth All-Nigerian Editors Convention held within the state capital.
Diri, in accordance with a Sunday assertion issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, stated he handled problems with improvement of the state significantly, as he was conscious that constitutionally, he was allowed solely two phrases in workplace.
He stated, “For us, it’s a uncommon privilege to serve our individuals. Alternatives like this don’t come typically. By the structure of Nigeria, I’m barred from contesting once more as governor of Bayelsa State.
“So, the one factor that can communicate for me, my deputy and most of us on this administration is the legacy that we depart by way of each human and materials infrastructure.
“Creating the state is now in our palms and we are going to hold doing our greatest within the remaining three years in order that after we depart, the state will proceed to really feel our influence having travelled this eight-year journey in service to the individuals of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.”
Responding to remarks of the NGE president, Eze Anaba, Diri authorised the request to institute an annual lecture to honour and immortalise a foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of Every day Occasions, Ernest Sesei Ikoli, an indigene of Bayelsa State, starting in 2025.
He additionally granted an enchantment by the Guild’s president for 2 interns on the state-owned Niger Delta Tv, who missed out when the governor directed the employment of 13 of their colleagues when he visited the station final yr.
In his handle, Anaba expressed gratitude to Diri for being an ideal host and for recognising the important roles editors play in shaping society.
Anaba additionally acknowledged that the help of the governor through the convention was a sign of the significance he connected to a free and accountable press.
Whereas highlighting the assorted mission websites visited, he expressed appreciation to the governor, significantly for setting up an iconic media advanced named after Ernest Ikoli.
In a welcome comment, the Commissioner for Info, Orientation and Technique, Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, counseled the Guild for selling excellence in journalism and for efficiently organising the twentieth ANEC.
The spotlight of the evening of glitz and glamour was the presentation of an award to Diri by the Guild and the induction of 12 new members.
Two initiators of the ANEC, Baba Dantiye, and Angela Agoawike had been additionally honoured by the Guild.
Current on the occasion had been the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency within the Home of Representatives, Dr Fred Agbedi; Secretary to the State Authorities, Dr Nimibofa Ayaowei, and Deputy Chief of Employees, Authorities Home, Irorodamie Komonibo.
Others had been the writer of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, presidential media aide, Tunde Rahman, Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Management Newspapers, Azu Ishiekwene, in addition to different high editors, leaders and veterans of the media trade.
In a press release final week, the NGE, whereas justifying the ANEC theme, “Financial Development and Growth Methods in Useful resource-Wealthy Nation,” stated whereas the poverty fee in Nigeria was put at about 40 per cent – with an estimated 88 million Nigerians residing beneath the poverty line – the change fee, inflation and swelling power costs remained enormous issues to many Nigerians and the worldwide neighborhood.
On media viability and sustainability, the skilled physique of editors emphasised the necessity for media stakeholders to return out with mechanisms to help the media trade – for particular person publishers and the sector as a complete, by guaranteeing they obtain honest compensation for the usage of their mental property and content material.