Mr Mideno Bayagbon, Publisher of Nigeria’s number one and Africa’s fastest rising online news platform, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) has been conferred with a Distinguished Service Award.
Mr Bayagbon was honoured with the Distinguished Service Award by the Jeddo Stakeholders Forum (JSF) at the 2021 Gala and Award Day of the forum on Saturday.
Bayagbon, former Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, was honoured by the JSF for distinguishing himself in the field of journalism and for his immense contribution to human capital development.
Represented by the Acting Online Editor of TNG, Mr Ediri Oyibo, the Publisher dedicated his award to all persons of goodwill, stressing that it is in capacity building that Nigerians can be empowered to live quality lives.
Earlier in his address, President of JSF, Hon. (Engr.) James Umukoro said the Gala and Award was put together to recognize the forum’s action founding members, who for over one decade have actively participated in enhancing the peace and development of Jeddo Community, and as part of activities to celebrate the 2021 end-of-year.
Engr. Umukoro said that against the criteria outlined for the award, 16 persons were thoughtfully selected as recipients, including Jeddo citizens, citizens of sister Okpe communities and non-Indigenes living in Jeddo community.
In his address, the JSF President revealed that over the years, the forum has played a worthy role in galvanizing forces in the enthronement of good leadership, a critical factor that has made Jeddo community the beautiful pride of everyone.
He further revealed that development programmes/projects executed by the forum include construction and donation of market stalls and yearly award of post primary school scholarships, provision of items of school furniture, and provision of security doors in schools.
Others be said are youth empowerment programme, vocational skills training, and provision of starter packs to beneficiaries, awareness creation on COVID-19 and donation of palliatives to the vulnerable, amongst others.
The JSF President’s address reads: “On behalf of Jeddo Stakeholders Forum (JSF), I humbly welcome you all to this Gala and Award Day ceremony.
“Jeddo Stakeholders Forum is a child of necessity, established 15 years ago after the intra-communal crisis that engulfed Jeddo Community in 2004.
“JSF with its motto, “Peace and Development” recognizes the strategic importance of peace as a vehicle for social cohesion and development.
“Membership of the Forum is made up of Jeddo sons and daughters in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, who are driven by the passion for sustainable peace and development.
“Over the years, the Forum has played a worthy role in galvanizing forces in the enthronement of good leadership, a critical factor that has made Jeddo community the beautiful pride of everyone.
“Development programmes/Projects executed by the Forum include the following: Construction and donation of Market Stalls, yearly award of post primary school scholarships, provision of items of school furniture, provision of security doors in schools, youth empowerment programme-vocational skills training, and provision of starter packs tobeneficiaries, awareness creation on COVID-19 and donation of palliatives to the vulnerable, amongst others.
“Today’s Gala and Award day is designed to bring together members of the Forum to celebrate the 2021 End-of-Year, recognize the Forums Action Founding Members who for over one decade have actively participated in building and strengthening JSF, and thus enhancing the peace and development of Jeddo Community.
“The event shall also feature Awards of recognition to distinguished Okpe indigenes and non-indigenes living in sede Community.
“The Awardees are persons of impeccable character who have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavour, and are committed to human capital development, societal peace and development
“Viewed against the criteria outlined for the award, 16 persons have been thoughtfully selected as Recipients. These are: Jeddo Community – 8 persons, Sister Okpe communities-6 and non-Indigenes living in Jedda Community-2.
“It is pertinent to mention that JSF is committed to partnering with relevant stakeholders within and outside Jeddo community in the task of enhancing an enabling peaceful environment for sustainable development, as well a attracting both human and infrastructural development to the Community.
“I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to inform this honourable gathering that we shall in no distant time call on people of good will to partner with us in the execution of our 2022 development plan. We humbly crave your indulgence to please give us the needed support whenever we call on you.
“This address will not be complete if I fail to recognize the worthy role of Jeddo Community leadership for sustaining the existing peace in the community. Today, Jeddo community is widely acknowledged as one of the fastest growing community in Okpe kingdom. This is as a result of the enduring enabling peaceful environment. My thanks therefore go to the Elders-in-Council, the Unu-Amua-in-Council, the Chiefs and other organs of governance.
“Mr Chairman, Royal Father and Spiritual Father of the day, our highly esteemed Awardees, special Guests, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for finding time out of your busy schedule to honour our Invitation. Thanks and God bless”.
Also presented awards are Professor Sam Oyovbaire, who was the Chairman of the occasion; Okakuro Robert Onome, the Duke of Ughoton District of Okpe, who was the Pioneer President of JSF; Chief James Augoye, former Commissioner for Works of Delta State, and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, represented by Chief Daniel Ivwrighren.
TNG reports HRM, the Orodje Okpe, Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) was the Royal Father of the Day, represented by Chief Daniel Okawe, and Rt. Rev. Christian Ide, Bishop of Warri Diocese, Anglican Communion as Spiritual Father of the Day.