Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has offered scholarship to seven-year-old Eluan Turnah and 16-year-old Stella Ezekiel as part of his administration’s effort at encouraging budding talents to achieve excellence.

Senator Diri announced the scholarship awards in recognition of the girls’ sterling performance during the 2020 Carol of Nine Lessons at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday night.

Stella, a student of St. Jude’s Model Girls College, Amarata, stunned the audience when she gave a chronological order of Biblical events before the birth of Jesus Christ (BC) and after his death (AD) as well as the order of past governors and acting governors of the state from the time of its creation in 1996.

Also, Eluan, the little daughter of Alabh George Turnah, the governor’s Executive Assistant on Public Affairs and Orientation, gave a sterling solo performance of a song.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as noting that the scholarship would cover their secondary and university education and possibly up to Doctorate degree if they do well.

His words: “I hereby announce a scholarship award covering university and secondary education for the two girls who have demonstrated excellence. Clearly, we have budding talents in our state.”

Senator Diri attended the event with his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and other top government functionaries where Miss Eluan rendered a solo while Miss Ezekiel reeled off hand the chronology before the birth of Jesus Christ (BC) and after his death (AD) in the Bible as well as those that administered the state from creation till date.

The governor, who read the 9th Lesson from the book of John 1:1-5, expressed his resolve to make the development of youths one of the cardinal objectives of his administration as they are the future leaders of the state.

Recounting the challenges he faced while contesting the governorship election, Senator Diri said all those who contested with him were not adversaries because the race would not have been worthwhile without them.

“As politicians from Bayelsa, as few as we are, the only way is to forgive ourselves. All those who contested with me are not my enemies. Without them we wouldn't have crossed the seven seas,” Senator Diri said.

He urged people of the state to support his government's prosperity agenda in fostering peace, stability and sustainable development.

In his exhortation, the General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace Church International, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, dedicated the coming year to God, stressing that God would empower Senator Diri’s leadership to execute all that it has set out to achieve.

Speaking on the topic, “When God Speaks”, Apostle Aggrey stated that whatever God has ordained would surely manifest in the fullness of time.

He commended the leadership style of Senator Diri and his team especially in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that despite the ravaging health crisis across the country, the casualty figure in the state was minimal.

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