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R-L: Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of
Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Igodo, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture
and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Initiator of the Olotu Awards and
CEO, Pink Diamonds, Maria Glover and the Project Manager of the OLotu Awards,
Emmanuel Udoro, at the Press Conference/Flag-off of the Olotu Awards at the
Creek Motels, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Photo
by: Ileimokumo Appah
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PRESS RELEASE
Bayelsa Government Supports the Olotu Awards
The Government of Bayelsa State has
re-stated its commitment to encouraging youths who make sacrificial
contributions to community and society genuinely in any area of endeavours.
The state Commissioner for Culture and
Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, stated this while speaking as the
Patron at the official launch of the Olotu Awards Project in Yenagoa, the
Bayelsa State Capital.
The Commissioner said as Ijaw people: we
are honest, hardworking, hospitable and diligent, not as misrepresented in
recent times because of our stance for justice against under development.
Dr. Tuodolo also said; “our subscription
to the Olotu Awards Project is consequent upon our resolve as a Ministry and people,
to be true to the shared values of our founding fathers, especially at times
like this where awards are monetized and politicized.
Also speaking, the Initiator of the
Olotu Awards and CEO of Pink Diamonds, Maria Glover, said the Award is aimed at
repositioning the negative spotlight of the media on the Ijaw Youths.
She said the youths of the region have
engaged in militancy and arms struggle and as such been branded names such as
hoodlums, vandals, terrorists, etc due to their fight against the oppression and
marginalization of their territories.
The Olotu Awards Initiator however said
that in spite of this, there are ordinary Ijaw Youths who are living lives of
bravery, courage, selflessness and succeeding in their various endeavours
despite the challenges of poverty, physical disabilities, illiteracy, disease,
depravity, environmental pollution and more.
These youths who have not engaged in the
negative vices associated with us are the “real heroes”, she says, and we want
to “recognize, celebrate, reward and award that Bayelsan youth between the ages
of 15 – 25 years, as a different approach to join the fight against the
negative perception about us.” Maria Glover therefore called for entries from
all the 8 Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State for youths who fit this
description, saying that 3 persons would be nominated from each Local
Government Area, and would be televised in April this year on various local, national
and international television stations to enable the public vote for their favourite
stories/persons that should be the “Olotu”.
She also said that the Award will
culminated in a grand finale May18, 2013 in Yenagoa, where the potential 4 finalists
would be recognised and awarded, with the First Prize given in honour of the
late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, due to his commitment to the emancipation of the
Izon people. Entries for the Awards will close May 28, 2013.
On his part, the Royal Father of the
day, the chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King
Godwin Igodo thanked Pink Diamonds for initiating the Olotu Awards project and
for their commitment to the vision which is aimed at re-branding the negative
image of the Ijaw youths of Bayelsa State.
Izontimi
Otuogha
Media Co-ordinator
Olotu Awards Project
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L-R Project Manager of the Olotu Awards,
Mr. Emmanuel Udoro, Initiator of the Awards and MD, Pink Diamonds, Maria
Glover, Commissioner, Bayelsa State Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National
Affairs and Patron of the Olotu Awards, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, and Chairman,
Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Igodo, at the
Flag-off/Press Conference of the Olotu Awards held at the Creek Motels,
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Photo By:
Ileimokumo Appah
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