23rd October, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
The chairman of Etsako Central local government council of Edo State, Mr Solomon Obomighie, has established an essay competition among secondary schools, in memory of the late Editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, Dele Giwa.
Giwa who hailed from Ugbekpe-Ekperi community, in the LGA, was murdered on Sunday morning of 19 October, 1986, at 39 years of age through a parcel bomb in his private study.
The chairman of the council noted that the Dele Giwa Essay Competition is aimed to celebrate and promote the values that he embodied throughout his career.
He said the competition will also provide a platform for young writers and journalists in the local government area to know more about Dele Giwa and express their thoughts on pressing societal issues and showcase their writing skills.
He further stated that the late Dele Giwa secondary school essay competition is an initiative that demonstrates his commitment to appreciate the worthy sons of the entire Etsako Central local government area and a way to promoting education, fostering talent, and upholding the legacy of our remarkable individuals.
According to him, “This competition will not only serve as a tribute to late 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.
“We will be collaborating with local education authority, private school owners and professional journalists to make this competition a success and impactful among the young ones.”
The chairman, who urged all secondary school principals to give a wider awareness to their students in the Local Government for participation, noted that details of the essay competition, including eligibility, prizes, and submission guidelines, will be released soon.