Kogi journalists win cash prizes in maiden GYB essay competition

Emmanuel Adeyemi, a correspondent of The Sun newspaper in Kogi, has won the maiden Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) essay competition in the state.

Adeyemi was announced the winner of the competition on Tuesday during the presentation of prizes in Lokoja, the state capital.

The journalist won the competition with a total score of 75.8 per cent and went home with N2 million cash prize.

Richard Elesho of The News, who scored 72.6 per cent, was adjudged the first runner-up.

Julius Atabor, the correspondent of Independent Newspapers, was the second runner-up with a total of 70.6 per cent, while Adeiza Momohjimoh of Nigerian Link and Bashir Muhammad of New Telegraph were tied for the fourth place, each scoring 70.4 per cent.

The first runner-up got N1 million; second runner-up, N500,000, while the two journalists who tied for the fourth place prize went home with N250,000 each.

There were consolation prizes, ranging from N20,000 to N100,000 for many other journalists that participated in the competition.

Adeyemi described the N2 million prize as “a big shock”.

“Such gesture is an encouragement to media professionals in the state and also an eye opener for better performance,” he said.

Chris Iziguzo, president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, commended the governor for his support for journalism in Nigeria and the recognition of the importance of the profession in building a better state.

“By establishing this essay competition, you have indeed demonstrated your unwavering commitment to nurturing and empowering journalists to excel in their craft,” Iziguzo said.

The NUJ president noted that this would not be the first time the governor would be empowering, and at the same time, rewarding outstanding journalists with cash and other prizes.

He said he was glad that the beneficiaries of Tuesday’s event were journalists practising in Kogi state.

He congratulated winners and encouraged journalists to continue in their pursuit of excellence while adhering to the highest standards of professionalism.

In his speech, Bello said he is confident in the professional capacity of journalists in the state.

“They are my own special people. If I don’t embark in capacity building and empowerment for them, no outsider will,” the governor said.

Bello assured the media that the essay competition would outlive his administration.

The event was attended by top government officials, including journalists in the state and across the country.