NGO says Bayelsa born winner of voice of Nigeria 2 brought honour to state

A non-governmental organization, The Robert Sunday Iworiso Foundation has hailed the winner of the season 2 of The Voice Nigeria, Daniel Diongoli, popularly known as Idyl ‎for making Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation proud.

The 22 year old budding musician was at the weekend announced as the winner of the popular music talent hunt competition after defeating three other finalists.

The Robert Sunday Iworiso Foundation in a statement released in Yenagoa on Monday and signed by its director, Chief John Alphonsus Iworiso said the emergence of Idyl as the winner of the keenly contested competition is a proof once again of the true spirit of Bayelsans.

The statement noted that Bayelsans have uncommon talent and a very remarkable gift which can fetch them any laurel if they set their minds on it and observed that Idyl has also taken that path as he showed strength of character on his way to stardom.

It recalled that Idyl’s mentor and one of the judges at The Voice Nigeria, ‎Timi Dakolo who himself hails from Bayelsa had won a similar competition, The inaugural West African Idols in 2007  which brought him to the limelight and today he is widely referred to as Nigeria’s king of soul music.

“This is not the first ‎time individuals and groups will be making the state proud. Few months ago, Perewari Victor Pere bagged a first class and was the best graduating student of his set at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, USA. We have also witnessed the success story of our students in external exam. In WAEC and NECO we are ranked among the best five.

“As it is in music and education so it is in ‎other fields. Students of St Jude’s girls Amarata has won back to back for four years running now the Milo basketball competition among other laurels. Also, the state cultural troupe has brought home different national and international awards” the statement said in parts.

The foundation, therefore, called on Bayelsans, especially the youths to always display energy towards meaningful ventures rather than engage in the usual antics to run each other down through unwholesome enterprise.

It maintained that it is time for youths of the state to begin the transition from being dependent on handouts from politicians and always seeking gratification to looking inwards and tasks themselves to be more creative, more self-driven in order to develop their innate talents and make something more meaningful out of their lives, as there is no shortcut to success.

While congratulating Idyl‎, the foundation pointed out that the latest success story is obviously what the state needs to change the constant negative narrative, which the present administration under Governor Seriake Dickson with pragmatic leadership is also fighting to end as evident in his government programmes and policies.

The NGO equally appealed to youths to join hands with the government to change the narrative about Bayelsa and the Niger Delta as one whose youths are perceived as militants to a state and region whose youths are intellectuals, imbued with bright ideas, creativity, resourceful and are the new change agents‎ leading youths of this generation to effect a positive change in their world.

For the massive support and mobilization, the foundation expressed its deep appreciation to the Chief Whip of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon Tonye Emmanuel Isenah who ensured that Idyl had the required votes to be declared winner.

According to the foundation, the votes from Bayelsa attracted other votes across the country and in the overall galvanized and propelled the winning streak for the young star.

Others who got the foundations commendation are; Timi Agala-Omubo, Onisodemuya Lishman, Dickson Didi Opuene, Bodmas Kemepadei and the lady who used her Restaurant “come chop and vote” nice concept, Peace Selekumo Akpek as well as the general Bayelsa public for a job well done.

The Robert Sunday Iworiso Foundation‎ added that it is looking forward‎ to Idyl becoming an international act and urged him to remain focus and humble in order to conquer his world.