SENATOR DIRI HON WITH SDGs AWARD

Story by Ovie smith

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has been honoured by organisers of this year’s SDGs Film Challenge and Award in Abuja, with an SDGs Impact Award as an Icon of Sustainable Development.

The Senior Special Assistant and Focal Person for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Ebiwari Wariowei received the award on behalf of Governor Diri at the colourful event organized by the United Nations in collaboration with Fresh News.

Dr. Wariowei, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Pereokosifa Buseni, thanked the organizers for recognizing Governor Diri’s immense contributions and steady implementation of his developmental agenda since he assumed office on 14th February, 2020.

He stressed that the governor deserves all the accolades as he has shown commitment and passion for the promotion and attainment of the SDGs in the state before the year 2030, which ends the decade of action.

According to Dr Wariowei, unlike other states, Governor Diri ensured budgetary provision for the Bayelsa SDGs Office through the Ministry of Finance, to enable the interventionist agency carry out its mandate, describing it as no mean feat.

He said “we at the SDGs in Bayelsa State are very grateful to His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri. Since he came on board, we have built on the deliberate programme to build on the SDGs into our annual budget and that is the success story today.

“Every other year we don’t need to go and que before the Governor before carrying out our SDGs programmes because the budgetary provision is there. You just need to go to the Ministry of Finance and get your budget for the year to implement the SDGs and that is not by any means a little feat.

“It is not many states that can do it and that is due to the commitment and the passion His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri has in achieving the SDGs before or in the year 2030”.

The SSA on SDGs said interventions in the key sectors of economy, healthcare, infrastructure, education, youth empowerment and capacity building have helped to reduce the development deficit in the state as well reduce crime to its barest.

On behalf of the governor, Dr. Wariowei dedicated the SDGs Impact Award to the people of Bayelsa state, who he noted have always supported the Governor and are happy with his leadership in the past three and half years of his Prosperity Administration.

He equally urged the people not to be deceived by mere promises but to remain steadfast with Governor Diri who he stressed will deliver more development when re-elected in the November 11th, 2023, gubernatorial election.