As part of efforts at building the capacity of Information Officers
and keeping them abreast of the latest trends in Information
Dissemination and Information Management, the Office of Capacity
Development and Reforms, held a two-day training for Information
Officers in the State Ministry of Information, Tourism and Values
Orientation from Tuesday 24th to Wednesday 25th September, 2019.
The Workshop, which was held at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s
Office Extension in Ado-Ekiti, also had in attendance representatives
of allied staff of the Ministry as well as Information Officers from
the State House of Assembly.
OBSERVATION
In the course of the training, the following issues were observed:
1. Despite several subsisting circulars directing MDAs to incorporate
Information Officers attached to their respective offices into
management meetings, many MDAs have failed to comply. Information
Officers are often consequently excluded from critical decision making
process in the various MDAs.
2. Most Information Officers are faced with the challenges of lack of
working tools, poor bureaucratic climate and lack of fund.
3. Existence of communication gap between top officials of the MDAs
and Information Officers attached to them.
4. The commercialization of News by the State Radio and Television
negatively affects productivity of Information dissemination in the
state.
5. Most Information Officers were yet to register with the National
Institute of Public Relations now that it has become clearer that
their duties transcend mere news writing and consist more of Public
Relations.
6. Information officers in the state need to be exposed to regular
refresher courses so that they can be more alive to these
responsibilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
At the end of the training the following recommendations were made:
1. That Government should urgently issue a circular reminding MDAs of
the subsisting circular which makes it mandatory for information
officers to be part of management meetings in MDAs they are attached
to.
2. Government should properly train and retrain Information Officers
for effective service delivery.
3. Government should urgently provide basic working tools such as
laptops and cameras.
4. Government should provide suitable office accommodation as well as
access to internet facilities and utility vehicle for Information
Officers for optimal service delivery.
5. The Ministry of Information, Tourism and Values Orientation should
commence the process of reintroducing Ekiti State Update, Itesiwaju
Ekiti and Ibi abase Dele Ekiti and other public service programmes
that have been rested.
6. Government should urgently commence the process of recruiting
Information Officers, Cameramen, Photographers and Technical Officers
to operate Public Address Equipment (PAE) to solve the problem of
critical shortage of staff in the ministry
7. Similar training programme of this nature be organized for camera
men, photographers and other allied staff of the Ministry.
8. Management of the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Values
Orientation to regularly visit Editors of media houses to improve
usage of news stories emanating from the Information Newsroom in
national newspapers.
9. Government should urgently review the policy on commercialization
of news on the State owned Broadcast outfit (BSES) to allow for
unfettered information flow to people at the grassroots.
10. Made a passionate appeal to the State Government to assist
Information Officers pay their registration fees in the National
Institute of Public Relations.
11. Participants appreciated the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Information, Tourism and Values Orientation for affirming Mr. Adeola
as Director of Information Services with a passionate appeal to
Government not to bring personnel particularly from related
parastatals, to occupy key positions hitherto reserved for Information
Officers in the Ministries.
RESOLUTIONS
At the end of the training, participants resolved to:
i. Be more dedicated to the duties of giving adequate coverage and
publicity to government programmes and policies.
ii. Commit themselves to effective utilization of the skills acquired
during the training.
iii. Work tirelessly to accomplish the vision and mission of the
Ministry and the MDAs they are attached to.
iv. Work assiduously towards the realization of the 5 pillars of the
JFK-2 Administration.
CONCLUSION
Finally, participants expressed delight at the training programme and
expressed appreciation to the resource persons for their contributions
in ensuring the success of the training programme.
Participants expressed appreciation to His Excellency, the Governor,
Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the State Head of Service, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi for
approving the training. Participants also expressed gratitude to the
Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dare Ajayi and staff of the Office of
Capacity Building for coming up with thought-provoking topics that
were discussed during the programme.
Mr. Tope Babalola – Chairman
Mrs. Bolanle Tedela – Member
Mr. Abiodun Olajide – Member
Mrs. Tolu Ayo-Ajayi – Member
Mr. Oyebode Oyetunde – Secretary
