Bayelsa NUJ Press Week: Five champions crowned as indoor games end, eating contest set for Thursday

From Amgbare Prince, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday crowned five indoor-games champions, bringing the curtain down on a week-long sporting fiesta that formed the centrepiece of the 2025 Press Week themed “Media, Social Justice and National Development”.

In a tense Ludo final, former council chairman John Angese (Radio Bayelsa) defeated Diseye Dielagha (New Waves) 2-1 to claim the top prize. Eyal Ikisikpo (FRCN) took bronze after edging colleague Ben Okofu in an all-FRCN third-place playoff.

Table tennis defending champion Diseye Dielagha retained his title with another 2-1 victory, this time over long-time rival Tosan Enoma (FRCN). Ekaunkumo Amgbare (United Correspondents Chapel) completed the podium by beating Chris Mark 2-1.

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Draughts delivered an Information Chapel sweep: Tarabina Sunday dispatched chapel mates Nicodemus Dauebi and Dominic Sunny to pocket the star prize.

Scrabble stayed in the same chapel, with Tarabina Sunday and Purome Ipigansi claiming gold and silver respectively, dethroning last year’s winner Ebi Appah (Radio Bayelsa).

Chess saw Radio Bayelsa’s Glad Yakie upset colleague Kingsley Abidde to lift the trophy. Abidde settled for silver after beating Moye Stephen (Golden FM), while Epiri Izibalua (New Waves) took third.

Dick Cheney came, saw, and conquered, By Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko

The games climaxed ahead of Thursday’s grand finale: a hotly anticipated eating competition followed by the prize presentation ceremony scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the NUJ Press Centre, Ekeki, Yenagoa.

Council officials said the indoor events were designed to foster camaraderie among Bayelsa journalists while spotlighting the media’s role in national development.