Bayelsa Media Awards honors diplomats and journalists

The 13th Bayelsa Media Awards (BMA), held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State, recognized several professionals for excellence in media and communication.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received the 2026 Media Diplomat of the Year award. Ebienfa emphasized the importance of strategic communication in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and building public trust on the global stage.

In the journalism categories sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Blessing Ibunge of THISDAY Newspaper won the prize for Niger Delta Region’s Oil and Gas Print Reporter of the Year. Other NCDMB award recipients included Joseph Kunde of TVC Yenagoa for reporting on the economy, and Ebitimi Zitimiyola of NTA Yenagoa for oil and gas broadcast reporting. Winners in these categories received a cash prize of N1 million and a laptop.