Group Lauds Wike, Others Over Nomination, Receipt Of Media Awards

The organisers of the fourth edition of the Bayelsa Media Network Awards (BMNA) have praised the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Ahoada-West Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman, Dr Hope Ikiriko, for receiving their well deserved awards in the 2022 version of the awards which held at the Ernest Sesei Ikoli, NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Governor on 26th December, 2022 received an award as the Best ‘Governor of the Year’, conferred on him by the organisers of the prestigious BMNA in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State.
The Ahoada-West Council boss, who also doubled as Chairman of the occasion, received the award on behalf of the Rivers State Governor.
In his speech, Ikiriko acknowledged the organisers of the annual awards for meticulously nominating qualified individuals who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and professions as recipients of the awards.
He noted that he was not surprised that the Rivers State Governor was nominated as best Governor of the year for the awards.
Ikiriko said the Governor’s infrastructural revolution and other antecedents upon assumption of office underscore the reason he has received several awards in and outside Rivers State.
“If this awards were coming from certain groups, I’d not have been here in the first place, let alone becoming chairman of the occasion.
“But when the organisers first visited me in my office in the Ahoada-West council area, enumerated projects of the Rivers State Governor, the impact of these projects, and the Governor’s policies have had in the state, as well as my own efforts as council chairman in infrastructural development, I was convinced after thorough investigation that the awards were coming from a reliable group.
“Governor Wike, my boss emerging as the Best Governor of the Year, and me clinching the award of the best LGA Chairman in the South-South geopolitical zone in the 4th edition of the annual awards is a testament to the fact that in all that you do, whether as a public office holder or even in the private sector and otherwise, people unknown to you are watching,” he said.
“Personally, this award would spur me to do more for the people of Ahoada-West Council area”, Ikiriko said.
In their separate addresses to commemorate the 4th edition of the annual media awards, the Chairman, Organizing Committee for the 2022 edition of the event, Pastor Mike Tayese, and the Project Manager for the awards, Mr Blessing Ozegbe commended recipients and sponsors of the awards for making the event a reality.
He noting that the essence of the awards was to appreciate recipients’ contributions to societal development and progress.
Highpoints of the event was the unveiling and launch of a proposed N100,000,000million prototype event centre for the BMNA.
Recipients of various awards included: the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr Gloria Diri, Royal fathers from both Bayelsa and Rivers States, Security personels, Captains of industry, notable media stakeholders, and serving Commissioners in the Bayelsa State Executive Council.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa