Delta State governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, and former Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq, will be honoured with special awards by the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of activities marking the Press Week of the NUJ in Asaba.

Okowa will be given an Award of Excellence in Wealth Creation through Agriculture while Ogeah will also receive an Award of Excellence in Capacity Building and Media Management for his sterling relationship with the media during his time as information commissioner.

Ogeah who was information commissioner in Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s second term as governor facilitated the training of over 32 journalists practicing in the state, including non-indigenes, in Reuters Institute in London, generally seen as the Harvard of journalism, over a two-year period,.

State chairman of the council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, revealed this while unveiling the activities of the week-long ceremony. According to him, the award which holds during a December 12 gala night will be preceded by a public lecture to be delivered by human rights activist, anti-corruption crusader and founder of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

She will speak on “The Role of the Press in Managing the Lessons of Recession for a Wealthier Delta State” with Ogeah as chairman.

Ikeogwu said Governor Okowa who is special guest of honour will declare the lecture open. Activities for the Press Week also included a novelty football match between the NUJ and members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) as well as visit to sick members of the NUJ.

The activities will be rounded off with the gala night and awards where the national president of the NUJ, Comrade Waheed Odusile, is the chief host alongside Mr. Patrick Ukah, the state Commissioner of Information.