05/08/2026
Bayelsa Bags US CDC Award for Immunisation as State Ranks Top 5 in Teachers' Certification
YENAGOA, NIGERIA —
Bayelsa State has earned international recognition for its healthcare advancements while securing a top-five position nationally for teacher certification, highlighting the success of recent governance investments across the state.
At the 193rd State Executive Council meeting held at Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri was presented with an award from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), awarded in conjunction with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AfriNET).
Healthcare Breakthroughs: Drones, Vaccines, and Surveillance
Presenting the award, Health Commissioner Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe revealed that the honor followed an evaluation by the US Embassy's Global Immunization Division in July. The assessment commended Bayelsa for:
Mass Immunisation: Successfully vaccinating over 30,000 children and reducing "zero-dose" unvaccinated children from 4,000 to 2,100 within a single year.
Drone Technology Partnership: Collaborating with Zipline to deliver medical commodities and vaccines to hard-to-reach riverine communities via autonomous drones.
Malaria & Primary Care Expansion: Achieving the top ranking among states participating in the pilot malaria vaccine programme, training 720 primary healthcare workers, deploying tricycle ambulances, and integrating cottage hospitals into the primary health network.
While acknowledging the progress, Governor Diri challenged the Ministry of Health to reach total coverage:
"While this achievement is commendable, it also tells us that about 2,000 children were yet to be immunised. I urge the Ministry of Health not to relent until every eligible child in Bayelsa receives life-saving vaccines."
Educational Milestones: Top 5 in National Certification
In education, Commissioner Dr. Gentle Emelah briefed the council that Bayelsa ranked fifth nationwide in the recent Teachers’ Professional Qualifying Examination conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
This follows the state's recent first-place ranking in the National Examinations Council (NECO) results for candidates securing five credits or more.
Governor Diri praised the result but set a higher target for the sector:
"Ranking fifth out of the 36 states is encouraging... However, our target should be to rank among the top three and ultimately become number one in the country."
Infrastructure & Power Supply
Addressing local power distribution, Governor Diri reassured residents that technical challenges affecting the expansion of the state’s independent power plant are being addressed. He called on citizens to rely on official information and ignore local rumors regarding energy access.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to connecting every neighborhood in Yenagoa to the state's gas turbine grid, emphasizing that sustained public peace remains essential for continued progress
