By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The thirty-three Journalists who participated in the Governor Yahaya Bello, GYB Essay Competition for Journalists in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, were on Tuesday, handsomely rewarded with cash prizes in various sums for the chronicles of Governor Bello’s achievements in office as Kogi State Governor.
The essay competition among Journalists in the state tagged, ‘GYB Essay Competition for Journalists in Kogi State’, was the fallout of the improved media relations between the state government and the state Correspondents of national newspapers, broadcast media organizations, and publishers of the news blogs in the state.
Kogi State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, says the essay competition is intended to engender competition that will stimulate the instincts of Journalists in the state towards promoting good governance, through investigative and development journalism practice.
“Journalists fight for others, but nobody fights for their cause.
“The administration of Governor Bello is out to change the narrative with innovative ideas that will improve the lots of Journalists in the state, which was why the essay competition was organized to encourage excellence in Journalism practice while promoting government’s development strides.”
Governor Bello expressed delight with the professional conduct of Journalists in the state.
“I want to be remembered as a political leader who was dogged in fighting for his people and provided visionary leadership for his people.
“And at the end of the day, I would have been fulfilled; looking back at the stage I took over the governance of the state and the current stage of its development under my leadership.
“I wouldn’t have accomplished my vision without the support of the media; the fourth estate of the realm. You have made me too pass through the blast furnace, and we have come out more refined than ever before,” Gov. Bello recalled his experience with Journalists in the state.
One of the panelists, who announced the Winners, Mrs. Bimbo Oyetunde, of Radio Nigeria, Bronze FM, Benin City, said the award winners were in six categories while the judges considered grammar, (50%); content, (20%) and flow (30%) as the criteria for the award of marks to the contestants.
Mr. Emmanuel Adeyemi, of Daily Sun Newspaper, won the star prize of two million Naira, Mr. Richard Elesho, of The News, was the second prize winner, with a Cash award of one million Naira while Mr. Julius Atabor, of Daily Independent Newspaper, clinched the third position with five hundred thousand Naira cash prize.
The two runners-up in the fourth position, Adeiza MomohJimoh, state chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Bashir Mohammed, Kogi State Correspondent of New Telegraph, won two hundred and fifty thousand Naira each, while the rest participants, including Voice of Nigeria’s Ishaq Dan-Imam, got consolation prizes of twenty thousand Naira each as the organizers promised to make the next edition of the essay competition bigger and better for Journalists in the state.
Mr. Emmanuel Adeyemi, an excited Winner of the star prize, who spoke on behalf of the winners, expressed joy and gratitude to Governor Bello for the singular honour bestowed on Journalists in the state.
