The grand finale of the Senator Ede Dafinone Urhobo Language Competition 2024, today, came to a climax with Mr. Onoji Ogheneruona, of the Petroleum Training Institute PTI, clinching the First prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira. 
The event which held at the 500 Capacity Hall of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources FUPRE, Effurun, Delta State, had 10 contestants drawn from different tertiary institutions and one Secondary school.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Prof. Mrs. Roseline Aziza, chairman of the Urhobo Studies Association USA, and organizers of the event, expressed gratitude to the sponsor, Sen. Ede Dafinone for coming out to sponsor the competition which she said was last sponsored in 2012.
Prof. Mrs. Roseline Aziza in an interview with Journalists immediately after the competition, noted that the competition was birthed and first sponsored by Late Sen. Pius Akporokena Ewherido, in 2012, but said after his demise, due to lack of sponsors, the competition went into oblivion.
She disclosed that before getting to the grand finale, the Urhobo language competition which was opened for all Urhobo indigene, went through three stage with best getting to the finals.She stated that the organizers and sponsors where expecting about 1000 participants, but unfortunately only about 287 applied, and at the first stage, 50 contestants emerged until the final stage.
Prof. Mrs. Aziza, immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor, Delta State University, Abraka, who is currently on sabbatical at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources , Effurun, further disclosed that the Urhobo language competition was first sponsored by the Late Sen. Pius Ewherido.
“It was the late Sen. Ewherido that conceived the idea and he sponsored the first edition in 2012.
“We are all aware that our languages are dying, and what gives major identity to any group of people is their language, and once the language dies, the people literarily die, because there is no real identity apart from the language.
“The language embodies culture, so it is with the language you teach the children the culture, and other things concerning the people, who they are, how they behave, what they value and their knowledge systems.Â
“There are whole lot things we have back home here but, because we do not have the language to explain them, most of them are dying. The languages need to be revived. Urhobo is suppose to be one of the languages in Nigeria, even the fourth in terms of seize among the languages of Nigeria, but once you count Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo that is it, all other languages are classified as minority and nobody cares about that, and that is why we are struggling that the Urhobo language does not die.Â
“We are very gladdened that Sen. Ede Dafinone came up with this idea. We want to thank him for reviving the Urhobo language.”
language.
On his part, Sen. Ede Dafinone represented by Chief Tuesday Onoge, reemphasize the importance of the Urhobo language as he noted that the best scientists in the world was trained in their languages. He stated that in the past, teachers did not value the local languages neither do they know the importance so when a child speaks vernacular then, he or she will be mocked or even punished, but said today, your language is now a source of identity and even learning. 
Sen. Dafinone appealed to parents and guardian to revived the Urhobo language amongst their children and ward in order to protect the language and culture.
10 contestants competed in the grand finale with the first prize of Five Hundred Thousand naira won by Ogheneruona Onoji, Second prize of Three Hundred Thousand naira and Third prize of Two Hundred Thousand naira went to Izobo Favour and Urhobe Onome respectively.Â
The seven other contestants went home with One Hundred Thousand naira consolation prizes each. Â
Speaking with Journalists, Mr. Ogheneruona Onoji, a 200L student of Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Training Institute PTI, Effurun, expressed gratitude to the sponsor, Sen. Ede Dafinone for the opportunity given and thanked all members of the Urhobo Studies Association for given them the platform to display their mother tongues. He said he prepared for the competition but never knew he will go this far. Â
Highpoints of the competition was the presentation of prizes to the contestants.