Diri Congratulates Ovieteme On African Media Awards

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday received Bayelsa-born ARISE News Journalist, Mr. Ovieteme George, at Government House, Yenagoa, in recognition of his remarkable achievements and contributions to journalism.

Hotnews reports that the visit followed Mr. George’s recent international and national recognition after emerging as the winner of the Outstanding News Report of the Year at the African Media Awards held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He also clinched the prestigious Reporter of the Year award presented by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja.

Welcoming the award-winning journalist, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to God for Mr. George’s life and accomplishments, describing his success as a source of pride not only to his family but also to Bayelsa State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Governor noted that receiving honours from highly respected media institutions within Nigeria and across Africa is a testament of Mr. George’s hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence in journalism.

Governor Diri said the achievements of the Bayelsa-born journalist demonstrated that diligence, integrity and perseverance remain the pathway to success, irrespective of one’s family or environmental background.

He urged young people in the state to emulate Mr. George’s discipline, resilience and commitment to his profession to attain progress in life.

According to the Governor, Bayelsa youths should draw inspiration from the journalist’s accomplishments and remain focused on building successful careers that would bring honour to themselves and the state.

On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa state, Governor Diri congratulated Mr. George on his well-deserved recognition, commending him for projecting Bayelsa positively on the global stage.

In response, Mr. Ovieteme George thanked Governor Diri for the warm reception and kind words, expressing appreciation for the governor’s tremendous commitment to the development of Bayelsa state.

The award-winning journalist also commended the Governor for his unwavering support for journalists and media organisations since the inception of the transformational prosperity administration in 2020.

He further noted that the governor’s media-friendly disposition, has created an enabling environment for journalists to peacefully and effectively carry out their professional responsibilities.

Mr. George reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the ethics of journalism and continuing to tell impactful stories that promote truth, accountability and national development while showcasing the positive image of Bayelsa State to the world.

~ Hot News Reporters
Thursday, 2, June, 2026