18 year Old Sophia Awaji-Benem has emerged winner of the Essay competition by the Rivers State Ministry of Information on its advocacy program "#OurstateOurResponsibility.
Miss Awaji-Benem , an indigene of Andoni Local government area was announced the winner of the competition at a formal event held by the Ministry to unveil winners of the competition.
Speaking shortly after the presentation of the awards and prices to winners, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, who was a special guest in the program, congratulated the winners, noting that the program was timely and reflected the mandate of the Ministry.
He said: "I congratulate you for the choice of the winner. I do not mince words. You have done well. What you have done is a discharge of your responsibility as a Ministry. Today you have done well in your responsibility of educating people".
Professor Ebeku also endorsed the hashtag #OursSateOurResponsibility and noted that indigenes and residents of Rivers state must be selfless in their responsibility to the state.
He said: " We must be selfless in our responsibility to the state.De-marketing the state is an injustice to self.
If you see something that is good, you need to commend it. It is not that criticism is bad, but constructive criticism is the way to go".
The Education Commissioner also admonished youths in the state on productive use of the internet, stressing that young people are engaging themselves unproductively, suggesting that the number of entries in the essay competition low.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, said the advocacy program was conceived and nursed while he was a Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
He hinted that the intent was "to sell Rivers State to those who live and do business in Rivers State", noting that the mission was to propagate the policies and programs of the governor who through his leadership has redefined governance in Nigeria.
For her part, the winner of the Essay, Sophia Awaji-Benem, expressed gratitude to God for the victory and revealed that her essay was inspired by her passion and love for the State.
The winner of Essay Competition aside receiving a cash of gift of N60,000, an opportunity to be the Commissioner for Information and Communication for 30 minutes, was announced the brand ambassador for the advocacy program while first runner-up received a cash gift of #40,000, and the second runner-up cash gift of #30,000 while the three others were presented with consolation prizes.
Present at the award ceremony was the Commissioner for youths, Prince Ohia, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Directors and relatives of the awardees.
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