Bayelsa at 20: Dickson confers awards on Okara, Alagoa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Bayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has confered awards of excellence on two prominent indigenes of the state, Dr Gabriel Okara and Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa.

The awards were in recognition of their contributions to the development of the state and the entire country.

The event also featured the public presentation of five books on the speeches of the governor entitled: The Return of the Great White Shark; The Art of Delivery; The Power of Delivery; Unique Strides of Delivery and Restoration Unveiled; by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

The ceremony was held during a State Banquet in Yenagoa.

Dickson praised the awardees, Prof. Alagoa and Dr. Okara, whose famous poetry, Piano and Drums, The fisherman’s Invocation, The call of River Nun, Metaphor of a War and One Night at Victoria Beach, have remained a reference point among the intelligentsia in the global map of Literature.

Alagoa is a foremost historian and elder statesman, who spent his life researching on Ijaw history and offering suggestions for the future.

Dickson said they were honoured as great academics, who have made a mark in their chosen professions.

Conferring on the two illustrious Bayelsa sons the Distinguished Icon Award, the governor directed the Chief Historian and Archivist of the state, Dr. Stephen Olali, to liaise with the founding fathers of the state to document a comprehensive account of their specific contributions for posterity.

Dickson reiterated his administration’s preparedness to continue to acknowledge and appreciate excellence and the contributions of the founding fathers of the state, stressing that Bayelsa State would not have been where it is today, without their sacrifices.

 

The post Bayelsa at 20: Dickson confers awards on Okara, Alagoa appeared first on Vanguard News.