YENAGOA, Nigeria — Kimieibi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the immediate past spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been named Media Diplomat of the Year at the 13th Bayelsa Media Awards in southern Nigeria.
The award was presented on Thursday in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, during a ceremony held alongside celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation. Organisers said Mr. Ebienfa was chosen for his strategic use of communication in diplomacy and his contribution to advancing both national and regional interests on the international stage.
They described him as an articulate communicator whose work exemplifies a “new generation of Ijaw diplomacy characterized by intelligence, composure and respect.”Mr. Ebienfa, who was represented at the ceremony by his foster son, Woyengiowoi Precious Michael, expressed his gratitude for the honour, highlighting the growing role of public communication in modern statecraft.”I regard this recognition as both an encouragement and a call to greater responsibility in the practice of strategic communication and media diplomacy,” Mr. Ebienfa said in a statement.”Serving as Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided me with the opportunity to contribute to the communication of Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities… That experience reinforced my conviction that effective diplomacy depends not only on negotiations and official engagements, but also on clear, credible and timely communication.”He added that professional media engagement remains essential for building public trust, countering misinformation, and projecting national values in an increasingly interconnected world.
The annual Bayelsa Media Awards recognize individuals and institutions making notable contributions to public service, journalism, and development in the Niger Delta region.
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