Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated winners of the recently organised Bayelsa Media Awards, describing the awards as a recognition of the media community’s efforts at promoting the ideals of the state.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, noted that despite being media-friendly, his sponsorship of four categories of the Bayelsa Media Awards is to encourage media practitioners in the state to be more creative and hardworking.
He commended the organisers and explained that his support was based on the fact that the media award is a good brand that promotes the state.
Alabrah, who served as Editor of two national tabloids before his appointment, noted that the Bayelsa Media Awards ensures that hardworking media practitioners receive support and are motivated.
Four media practitioners won the Senator Douye Diri prizes. Iruofagha Lawrence Okutuate of Radio Bayelsa won Presenter of the Year, Isaac Eyedoude of Golden FM won News Editor of the Year, Munene Wilson of Radio Bayelsa won Newscaster of the Year and Samuel Oyadonghan of Vanguard won Reporter of the Year.
They were each presented with N500,000 cash prize and a tablet.
Earlier in his speech, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Bayelsa Media Awards, Victor Binawari, expressed appreciation for the support shown by Governor Diri towards the organisation of the awards in the last four years and gave assurance that the prizes would be upgraded from the next edition.
He also pointed out that the Bayelsa Media Awards, which started with only state-based practitioners, is gradually taking entries from states in the Niger Delta region and is expected to go national in 2027 and beyond.
