Governor Uzodinma’s Award: Analyst predicts bigger offer for the winners

An events analyst, Dr. Clifford Okorie has predicted that the winners of the second edition of governor Hope Uzodinma’ Media Excellence award could go home with bigger offers.
Dr. Okorie who made the prediction in a paper analysis titled “Nigeria Economy of yesterday, today and tomorrow” recalled that winners of the first edition of the award earlier last year went home with five hundred thousand naira each.
The analyst expressed concern that the cost of living and prices of goods and services are today three times higher than what they were last year.
Dr. Okorie who lauded governor Hope Uzodinma for the initiative said the gesture would motivate media practitioners in the state to strive for excellence while discharging their duties.
According to him, media practitioners as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, are indispensable to the existence of a normal society.
The analyst however regretted that despite the indispensable role of the media, the practitioners have been recorded as one of the most economically disadvantaged set of people in the society.
Dr. Okorie who commended the commissioner for information Hon. Declan Emelumba for being up and doing in discharging his duties, suggested that they government should consider the obvious change in the present economic situation in the country while making offers to the awardees.

The Chairman of the Governor Hope Uzodinma Media Excellence Award committee, Chief Fidel Onyeneke had announced the winners on Tuesday 29th of November 2022, when he officially submitted the report of the committee to the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba in his office in Owerri, the state capital.
Chief Onyeneke who revealed that entries were narrowed to work done between January 2022 and October 2022 also explained that their criteria included Objectivity, relevance to good governance, style, language, introduction and ending.
According to Onyeneke, Ozisa FM presenter and producer Adaeze Opara-Anyanwu popularly known as (Adaigbo) emerged as the Most Outstanding Radio Presenter (Igbo), Faith Chichi Igwilo of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) clinched the Most Outstanding State Correspondent award while Reginald Mbajunwa of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) emerged winner of the Best Documentary TV Journalist of the Year.

Other winners are Chris Anucha, Editor of The Statesman Newspaper (Best Investigative Journalist); Ngozi Ejimmadu of the IBC (Best Documentary Radio Journalist), Mary Omeni Nwode of MyRadio (Most Outstanding Radio Presenter (English) and Akunna Azuike of the IBC (Most Outstanding TV Presenter).

The rest are Cosmas Chukwuemeka of Darling FM (Best Sports Reporter) and Chigozie Emeremgini of the IBC (Most Creative Cameraman TV).

Onyeneke also disclosed that the committee disqualified entries submitted for Most Outstanding Photo Journalist award because none of the entries presented evidence of the work having been used in any media platform.

The chairman added that entries for the Most Balanced Local Newspaper award failed to meet stipulated template while the committee received no entry for Most Objective Radio Station award category.

He expressed profound gratitude of the committee to the governor for encouraging the growth of journalism and promoting excellence in media practice in the state.

Chief Onyeneke also thanked the governor and the commissioner for giving the committee free hand to discharge its duty professionally.

Onyeneke however reiterated his call for regular training and retraining of journalists in the state to make for more efficient and effective service delivery.

Receiving the report, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba commended the committee for doing what he described as a ‘very thorough job’.

He noted that the award was to appreciate journalism and journalists, for their sacrifices and to encourage them to continue to serve the society.