“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men” Proverbs 22:29.
This scripture may have defined the pages of life of Sir Honour Gogoro Nornubari Kuru Sirawoo, Ph.D, KSC, GMH, FIHNR, FCAI. FIPMD, FICP, a Crown Prince, born on the 3rd of September 1972 into the family of His Royal Highness, Chief Kuru in the Naenwi House of the Gbene Sirawoo Dynasty of Kono Town in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
He had his early Education at the famous Kono Community Primary School and Secondary Education at the National Profesional Secondary School, Port Harcourt all in Rivers State.
Attended Ahmadu Bello University (Institute of Education), Kano Campus, where he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE); and International Institute of Journalism, Port Harcourt Campus, for Diploma, Higher Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism.
He also obtained a Master Of Science (MSc) Degree and Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D) respectively in Mass Communication from Imo State University, Owerri.
He secured employment with the Rivers State Television (RSTV) in 1996 as Sports Editor. Until the elevation to his present post, he was a Director in Charge of Sports at the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC), a parastatal under the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications.
He has held several positions of responsibilities, including Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the erstwhile Operation Flush; Press Secretary to Rivers State Deputy Governor (Sir Gabriel Toby & Engr. Tele Ikuru), Head of Media & Publicity in several political organizations, Media Consultant and Adviser to several Corporate Organizations and Social Groups, Senior Media Assistant (SMA) to Senator Magnus Abe; Media Adviser to the Managing Director/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), (Dr Chris Oboh), among others.
He was at various times the Chairman, Committee On Repositioning Rivers State Government Website; Member, Publicity Subcommittee on the inauguration of Astro-Synthetic Pitch at the then Liberation Stadium, Elekahia; Member, 17th National Sports Festival Bid Committee; Chairman, Fans Mobilisation Committee For Premier League Matches in Rivers State; Chairman, Publicity Subcommittee, Rivers State Sports Festival; Chairman, Publicity Subcommittee Boys Brigade Centenary Celebration; External Media Adviser, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA); Media Consultant, Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA); Member, Media/Publicity Subcommittee, 17th National Sports Festival; Media Adviser, Rivers Youth Movement and Boys Brigade Nigeria, Rivers chapter.
He was also the Chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC) of Go Round/SWAN Athletics Championship; Media Adviser, Rivers South-East Elders Forum; Member, Committee on Merger of Sharks and Dolphins; Member, Rivers State Government Committee on U-23 Olympic qualifiers and Super Eagles Matches; Member, Local Organising Committee (LOC) Governor Wike National Wrestling Championship and, Member, LOC African Wrestling Championship.
His zeal for Union matters paved way for his election as Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), RSTV Chapel; where he was Head of Reportorial, Acting Head of News and Associate News Producer.
He was Public Relations Officer of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Vice Chairman and Chairman of SWAN respectively in Rivers State; Vice President of SWAN, South-South Zone and served the Association in other capacities.
Sirawoo was elected the National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on July 13, 2016, in Ilorin, Kwara State, and was re-elected for a second term of 3 (Three) years on October 7, 2019 in Port Harcourt, thus not only becoming the first Rivers man to occupy the position in over 50 years but the first working and residing in the Old Eastern Region.
Under him, the Association experienced an unprecedented growth, secured a temporary National Secretariat and land for a permanent site in Abuja after more than 53 years of existence, donated by the FCT administration under Mohammed Bello; cleared all local and international debts and established for the first time in its history, a website, among others.
Today, SWAN is a registered organisation under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, owing to his belief system that life is smooth if actions are guarded by acceptable laws.
His administration as SWAN National President facilitated the re-election of a Nigerian, Mitchell Obi, as the President of AIPS Africa and conferment of the Prestigious Power Of Sports Award in Africa on a deserving Nigerian, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; secured Associate Membership of Sports Federations in Nigeria for members of SWAN, and got the first AIPS job placement for a Nigerian.
It is worthy of note that as Chairman of SWAN in Rivers State, he also facilitated the conferment of Grand Patron of SWAN on the then Governor of Rivers State, Sir (Dr) Peter Odili, by the National Body.
He is a member of several groups, associations and organisations that cut across his community, local government, ethnic group, state, country and the world. Among these are the NUJ, SWAN, Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association, Imo University (IMSU) Alumni Association, Christian Men’s Fellowship (CMF) Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Port Harcourt club 1928, among others.
He has attended several professional and other courses.
In recognition of his zeal for Christ and contributions to Church growth, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion invested him into the noble Order of Knight of St. Christopher in 2020. Through the positions and Offices he has occupied, Honour Sirawoo has continued to serve the society and assist humanity in his little ways.
Not too long ago and inline with his charitable disposition, he supported 185 persons drawn from his hometown, Kono and neighbouring Buan and Kwawa communities of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, with a grant for trading.
In pursuant of his quest to put smiles on the faces of humanity, he also sunk boreholes in Kono and Kwawa communities with generator and attracted the completion of Buan community internal roads.
He also secured one kilometer of road and electricity transformer from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to Kono Community, as well as the construction of a culvert and roofing of the Community Primary School, Kono.
He attracted Complete-Modern FIFA approved football gears to his Community through the National Lottery Trust Fund and the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development. He donated five giant trophies for competitions in Football, Ayo, Table Tennis, Choral and Draught among Dynasties, Churches and Individuals in his Community.
He also donated a modern table tennis board and other implements; Draught boards and Ayo plates.
He resuscitated the multiple award winning ‘Legbo’ Cultural group that has been in the cooler for over 30 years. He has donated towards the building of several churches in Kono and beyond, while also supporting several persons in their educational pursuit and Job placements, among others.
In his kitty are awards and recognitions from several groups, associations and organizations including, Rivers State Government “Governor’s Medal of Honour (GMH)”, Rivers State Best Television Sports Presenter Award, Khana Youth Movement Meritorious Award for Excellence, Anglican Youth Service Award for Dedicated Service To God, Rivers State Ministry of Information Award for Hardwork and Dedication to Duties, Logos Ministries Award of Labour of Love Towards the Body of Christ, United Youth Sports Federation Award for Grassroots Development and Rotaract Club of Aladinma Award For Selfless Service to Society and Humanity, Distinguished Alumnus Award by the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Award of Excellence from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), RSTV Chapel, Eminent Administrative Award of Distinguished Public Administrator by ACAN, Executive Leadership Excellence Award by the Institute of Policy Management Development.
He holds Fellowship Awards of Institute of Corporate Administration and Institute of Human and Natural Resources, Institute of Policy Management Development and Institute of Corporate Leaders & Public Administrators; Award of Excellence by the Rivers Council of NRA.
He has been honoured with an award of Sportsman of the Year 2020 by the DAILY ASSET NEWSPAPER and Sports Personality of the Year 2022 by TSA Magazine.
Based on his impeccable track records and outstanding contributions in the Rivers State Civil Service, DELVES SERVICES, Publishers of Africa Update Newspapers and Springpoint Magazine bestowed on him the award of the BEST PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE YEAR, 2020. European-American University, Republic of Panama conferred on him the prestigious HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE in Mass Communication Leadership, Media & Corporate Governance. He is also an awardee of the League of Character Club for his contributions to Sports Development, Tourism And Peaceful Coexistence Among Ethnic Nationalities.
In his bag are the International Association of Lions Club District 404 Award for Distinguished Service to Community; Honourary Award by Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Highrise District 9141; Rotaract Club of Port Harcourt (District 9141) for Professional Service Award; Rotaract Club of D-Line (District 9141) for Community Service Award; Patron Boys Brigade of Nigeria; Patron Ken-Khana Youth Movement; Patron Goal-Getter Social Club; Patron RCD Football Espanyol Nigeria; Rumuomoi Youth Council Award of Excellence for Humanity and Community Services; Certificate of Recognition as ICON OF SPORTS by Khana Local Government Council; Grand Patron, Kono Youth Association; Patriots Award for Public/Civil Service (The Bureaucrat & Technocrat) by Bonnadum Development Foundation, Ogoni, and Merit Award for Immense Contributions to the Department of Mass Communication (IMSU) by NAMCOS.
He has passion for travelling, hard work and honest dealing with people of integrity.
He is a Technocrat, an Administrator, a Philanthropist, a Leader, a Teacher, a Bridge Builder, an Anglican, a stickler for Due Process, and a Distinguished Journalist. Qualified and found worthy in the service of the Rivers State Civil Service, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike elevated Honour Sirawoo to the position of a Permanent Secretary in 2020.
He is presently the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Scholarship Board (RSSB); after a successful tenure at the Ministry of Sports.
He is married to Lady Mercy, a professional accountant in the employment of the Rivers State Local Government Service, and they are blessed with four children, two boys, and two girls.
Source: Blueprint newspaper
