FONE Media Integrated Company Holds 5^th Edition of Heroes/Heroines of Development Awards/12^th Year Anniversary

… With a Lecture themed: Preserving our Languages for Posterity, Isoko as a Focus

By Kelvin Ohoror

          The 5^th edition of Isoko Heroes/Heroines of Development Awards and the 12^th Year Anniversary of the Isoko Mirror Newspaper on the newsstand was held at the Jubilee Retreat, conference centre Warri; with a lecture themed: “Preserving our languages for posterity, Isoko as a focus”.

          The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FONE Media Integrated Company/Publisher of Isoko Mirror Newspaper comrade Felida Osede Essi in her address affirmed that, this programme is the 5^th edition of Heroes/Heroines of Development Awards, an occasion for bestowment of honours to those who sincerely deserved these honours and to also celebrate Isoko Mirror newspaper 12^th year on the newsstand.

Comrade Essi Further stated that the last time when the 4^th Edition of this programme was held at Shell Road, Warri on July 14 2012, A book titled “Historical Facts on the Isoko People and Communities” was presented. “Today another book titled; “Motivational Capsules”, is ready for presentation, stressing that the book will enhance the thinking of our people to move Isoko forward.

She therefore called on the senior citizens of the Isoko Nation to come together and speak with one voice not minding their political divide so that Isoko as a Nation can get its rightful place.        

She pointed out that, the Isoko Heroes/Heroines of development award is aimed towards encouraging people who have immensely made contributions to the development of societies not to rest in their oars to do more.

The recipients of the awards are; Alhaji Abdusalam Paxman Ekpuze, Mr. Julius Omokioja Eto, Hon. (Chief) Raphael Egaga Okaruefe, Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Oghenekome Agbada, Opa Williams, Prof. Sam Aghalino, Princess Oghale Oweh, High (Chief) Iduh Amadhe, Barr. Afahokor Akpovienehe Duncan, Dr. (Mrs) Janet Ofo Phd, Chief Ighodheme, Powerlee amongst others.

The Chairman of the occasion Prince Roland Obaro Unuafe, National Co-ordinator, Campaign for Good Governance stated that, “Among all the races in the in the world Isoko is the most admired race, he is happy and bless to be an Isoko man, stressing that what Comrade Felida Essi has been doing for the past few years is to encourage and inspire a lot of upcoming sons and daughters of Isoko Nation. “I commend her tremendously and pray that God will continue to sustain her in all her undertakings”. He said

Prince Unuafe who was happy with comrade Felida Osede Essi, reiterated her consistency in the publication of Isoko Mirror because he know what it entails to publish an ordinary pamphlets unless one is been sponsored by a rich business mogul or Government.

The National Co-ordinator, campaign for good governance therefore charged the Isoko people to emulate the publisher of Isoko Mirror and start doing something that can preserve Isoko cultural heritage and language in order for the Isoko Nation to take its rightful position in the country.

Earlier in a lecture delivered at the event themed: “Preserving our language for posterity Isoko as a focus”, the keynote speaker Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Oghenekome Agbada stated that language is an embodiment of a people, distillation and codification of human value. She pointed out that a meaningful contemplation of existence is impossible without bringing language into the picture, but stressing that there are factors militating against the survival of the language, which are; negative attitude of the people, lack of patriotism and lack of government support for the minority languages.

Dr. (Mrs.) Agbada further emphasized that, an average Isoko man sees Isoko language as a language that cannot be used to contribute meaningfully to modernity, globalization, politically, economically, technologically and scientifically. As a result the language is being treated with disrespect and neglect; the implication of this is language endangerment and its eventual death or extinction.

The erudite scholar who frowned at the behavioral attitude of the Isoko people noted that “The average Isoko man/woman does not see any need of spending his/her money on anything that has to do with the Isoko language. “The Language needs to be documented and to be taught in primary and junior secondary schools to enable the upcoming ones to read and write it” to achieve this, teachers need to be recruited for this exercise”. She noted

She further asserted that, “As the owners of the Isoko language we should do something to preserve it by documenting the language, teaching it in schools from primary to tertiary Institutions and the negative attitude of our people towards the language must change, that will enable us preserve language”. She said.

 

Cutting of the cake led by Prince Roland Obaro, Unafe Chairman and some Awardee.

Guardian Reporters Receiving Mr Julius Eto's Award  FROM Ambassador Alhjaji Paxman Ekpuzo.

The Pulisher Close with Mother of the Day Barr. Mrs Erijo, Miss Josephine Abraham and Mrs Joy Uzize.

The Pulisher Flank led by Prof. Mary Edema, Provost Collage of Education warri, Prof. Aghalino