By Balarabe Oshiafi
In furtherance of the legacy of her illustrious Son and renowned Journalist, late Dele Giwa, the Government of Etsako-Central local government area (LGA) of Edo State has decided to establish the Dele Giwa secondary school essay competition.
The executive chairman of the LGA, Honourable Solomon Obomighie made this declaration today in a release signed by his Chief press secretary (CPS), Igbanor Anthony, a copy of which was made available to Expressday.
Dele Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, it would be recalled, was murdered through a parcel bomb on October 19 1986.
“The Dele Giwa secondary school essay competition aims to celebrate and promote the values that Dele Giwa embodied throughout his career. It will provide a platform for young writers and journalists in the Etsako Central Local Government Area to express their thoughts on pressing societal issues and showcase their writing skills.
“This competition will not only serve as a tribute to Dele Giwa but also foster a nurturing environment for budding writers and journalists to receive recognition and encouragement. It is our hope that through this platform, we will inspire the next generation of journalists to embrace the core principles of truth, transparency, and accountability.
“Instituting the Dele Giwa secondary school essay competition is an initiative that demonstrates the commitment of the executive chairman and the entire Etsako Central LGA to promoting education and enable students to externalize their latent endowments.
“We will be collaborating with local schools, educational institutions, and professional journalists to make this competition a successful and impactful endeavour. Details regarding the essay competition, including eligibility criteria, prizes, and submission guidelines, will be announced in due course.
“Obomighie extends an invitation to all students in the Etsako Central Local Government Area to participate in the Dele Giwa secondary school essay competition and contribute to the celebration of Dele Giwa’s life and remarkable contributions to journalism.
“Together, let us honour Dele Giwa by inspiring and nurturing the next generation of journalists who will carry his legacy forward”,he advocated.