The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri has won the outstanding Performance Governor of the Year 2024 Award, in the category of Marine and Blue Economy.
The award was presented to him by the Nigeria Today Magazine, a global publication for the promotion of good governance and selfless service to humanity, on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yara’dua Centre, Central Business District, Abuja.
In his remark, Senator Diri said he was deeply honoured to receive the award on behalf of the people and government of Bayelsa State, noting that it is gratifying to see his administration’s pioneering efforts in the marine sector being acknowledged.
The Governor thanked organizers of the event and acknowledged that the honour will serve as a motivation to deepen his administration’s resolve and committment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Bayelsa State.
Senator Diri, who was represented by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. (Mrs.) Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, accompanied by
Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Bayelsa State, said his administration will harness the State’s marine resources wisely, ensuring that the waters remain vibrant and teeming with life, supporting both livelihoods and biodiversity.
He pledged to continue in the quest to realise the full potential of the Blue Economy in the State while embracing innovative practices in fishing, aquaculture, and marine tourism, alongside investing in education and capacity-building for the youths.
“Our goal is to equip them with the skills needed to thrive in these emerging sectors, transforming them from job seekers into job creators. We are also deliberately preparing our young men and women with the skills set to participate as seafarers and deep offshore oil and gas personnel in the Nigerian and global deep offshore oil and gas industry. This initiative is potentially transformative, and we have seen it succeed elsewhere”, he stated.