Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa says the state would institute an annual lecture in honour of late Ernest Ikoli, who was a foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of Daily Times.
Diri spoke on Saturday night at a dinner to round off the 20th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in Yenagoa.
He announced the decision following a request by the President of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba, that the state put in place such a lecture to immortalise the late Ikoli.
Ikoli, an indigene of the state, died at 67 in 1960.
Diri said that the inaugural lecture would hold in 2025, and directed relevant government officials to swing into action to make it a reality.
He said that the annual lecture being put in place would serve as a means of ensuring that memories of such persons who had done exploits during their time, were kept alive.
Diri, at the event, restated his determination to ensure that his administration also left lasting legacies in the state.
Diri, at the event, approved full employment of two interns at the state-owned Niger Delta Television (NDTV) who missed out when 13 of their colleagues were earlier granted same.
when he visited the station last year.
He employed the interns following an appeal by Anaba at the dinner.
The governor thanked the editors for finding Bayelsa a suitable place to hold the conference and taking time out to visit various parts of the state.
In his address, Anaba, thanked the governor for recognising the essential roles editors play in shaping the society.
Anaba said that the conference also afforded the participants the opportunity to see several projects of the Diri-led administration in the state.
He thanked the people of Bayelsa for the friendly atmosphere in the state.
Anaba commended the state government on the construction of an iconic media complex named after Ernest Ikoli, and other projects.
Earlier in a welcome remark, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, commended the Guild for promoting excellence in journalism and for successfully organising the 20th ANEC.
The highpoint of the night of glitz and glamour was the induction of 12 new members of the NGE.
Two past officials of the Guild, Halilu Baba Dantiye and Angela Agoawike, were also honoured for their roles in birthing the annual conference in 2004.
