By Eseoghene Emuke
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel, will on Wednesday March 23, 2022, honour a former Zonal Medical Director, Warri Central Hospital, Dr. Toju Eresanara, with a posthumous award.
Dr. Eresanara died of COVID-19 complications after testing positive for the then dreaded coronavirus while in the frontline saving lives of Deltans and Nigerians.
The late medical doctor was one of the Chief Treatment Officers in Delta State who were battling the scourge of the virus before being infected alongside some members of his family.
Eresanara died in one of the treatment centres where he was undergoing treatment in the state.
Chairman, NUJ Warri Correspondents chapel, Mr Okiemute Okpomor, said the posthumous award for the late Consultant Anaesthetist was to honour him for his doggedness in the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Okpomor noted that the late medical doctor will be honoured alongside other Nigerians who have contributed to the development of society during the union’s upcoming 2022 Annual Press Week Lecture/Award ceremony with the theme: “2023 General Elections and Security”.
“Eresanara was a frontline medical personnel in the fight against the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic in the state. He laid down his life for others to survive the global pandemic,” he said.
He said the lecture and award event is scheduled for Wednesday March 23, 2022 at the Casa de Pedro Hotel along Refinery Road, Effurun, Delta State.
Five other distinguished personalities and institutions including the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Prof. Emmanuel Ogujor, would be awarded while nine individuals would be recognised for the exemplary performances in their respective field of human endeavours.
The chapel’s chairman said that, the award was categorised into: Education, Security, Oil and Gas, Politics and Administration while the recognition category was grouped into: Media, Education and Artisanship.
“Other awardees are: Matrix Energy; Dr. Michael Tidi, Chairman, Warri South Local Government Area; Chief (Hon.) Thomas Ereyitomi, member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command.
“For the recognition category: Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro, Vice Chancellor, Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo; Prof. Rim-Rukeh Akpofure, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) Effurun and Mrs Rachael Obokohwo, a Delta-born female carpenter.
“Others are: Mr Sola Adebayo, Dr. Olayinka Ebikagboro; Mr Shola O’Neil; Mr Emmanuel Amaize; Mr Emmanuel Ogoigbe and Chief Omafume Amurun,” he said.
Okpomor said that the programme would be chaired by Ambassador Godknows Igali, former Nigeria Ambassador to Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
He added that former governor of Delta, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Minister of State for Education, Mr Kenneth Gbagi would be the Guest Speakers.
