Information, is no doubt powerful and essential in all sphere of human endeavours.
Individual societies and most especially, governments must be abreast of information in order to achieve desired growth and development.
It has therefore become imperative for both government and the governed to have access to information and be enlightened in order to fulfill their own sides of the social contract which will enable them deliver the projected national development. Government must have adequate information on the needs of the people, so as to know what to provide for them, while feedback from the general public is equally very vital to feel the pulse of the people.
During democratic process, if citizens were well informed, it will encourage them and promote effective participation, thereby making them see the whole process as a collective responsibility.
While this process is on, People should be furnished with information materials, irrespective of ethnic group, age or social status. Again, citizens will contribute meaningfully only when they have access to information, particularly, knowledge on skills that would make them responsible.
Information maintains the rule of law and provides a worthwhile channel for the adoption of public opinion. It informs the policy-making process of political leadership, all of which nurtures development.
The progress of any nation in these spheres of life also depends largely on how informed the citizens are.
Access to timely and useful information is a fundamental human right that can breach the circle of poverty and promote sustainable development because, if everyone have access to adequate information on government policies or hint on any useful measures that could transform their lives, as well as an advantage to the generality of the populace.
This is 21 century, the information age, where the role of information in relation to good governance and development cannot be downplayed. The society is driven by information made available to the people which invariably defines the modern world.
Therefore, to promote good governance, government must ensure that the public is adequately carried along of its programmes and policies through the machinery of the ministry of information which is saddled with information gathering, management and dissemination.
The Ministry is also responsible for promoting government initiatives amongst others, thereby creating technological environment for the country’s socio-economic development. In fact, it is the first point of contact for anyone seeking information about past and present governments.
No government can afford to neglect its information arm and it is against this backdrop that the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun decided to tow this path of providing necessary tool to make the Ministry of Information and Strategy more effective.
He is more concerned that the working environment is conducive to guarantee smooth operation in the Ministry; bearing in mind that once everything is in place, Officers will be well equipped and vibrant, thereby leaving no room for excuses why adequate and credible information would not get to the masses on time.
The State helmsman is also not unaware of the indispensable nature of the Information Ministry, and having considered the various means of reaching out to the citizens, he always approve and ensure release of funds to make sure that the newsroom, the unit monitoring different radio and television stations, film\photo unit and the recording studio are functional.
Recently, the studio was upgraded to ensure quality production of both audio and visual programmes produced by the Ministry. New speakers were also procured for the Public enlightenment Department to aid outdoor services.
The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile while presenting the Ministry’s 2021 budget emphasized the need to replace most of the Public Address Equipment (PAE) which he said are obsolete, having being purchased over two decades ago. He proposed in the budget that two PAE Vans, equipped with latest gadgets will be purchased, as well as two drones for aerial photograph and video recording.
Odusile listed other important equipment to be procured to include; motor vehicles to move operational to and from government events and assignments, computers and photocopy machines, projectors, editing materials and studio accessories to aid in the production of audio/visual materials on government activities for public enlightenment purposes.
The Permanent Secretary in the Information Ministry, Mr. Abiodun Awere affirmed the resuscitation of the radio and television monitoring unit, with a view to tracking news and programmes of some selected local and national stations, as they relate to the state government’s activities, for prompt attention and appropriate reaction, where necessary.
He also confirmed the procurement of state of the art Public Address Equipment which had replaced the obsolete ones of over two decades; this he said will efficiently and effectively enhance service delivery, as well as boost revenue generation drive of the ministry.
‘’ We are very lucky in the Ministry of Information, as every unit has been turned around within a short period of the Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration. His Excellency has just allocated a brand new bus to serve as PAE Van to ease movement across the state, rendering our services for the betterment of the state’’, the Permanent Secretary stated.
In compliance with the social media trend, as everybody now assume the role of a journalist, ready to put on the internet, any breaking issues without proper investigation, government of Ogun State through its New Media team, is making sure that all its activities are being projected on the numerous social media platforms on daily basis.
This team comprises media gurus who are versatile with the internet and always on the lookout to correct any wrong impression.
Governor Abiodun is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that all Civil Servants, especially, the Information Officers are ICT inclined, thus the State’s Bureau of Information and Communication Technology is not relenting in her effort in the training and retraining of Officers on any new trend on ICT. Free Wi-Fi is being provided throughout office hours to assist workers with operations on the internet and this has helped in gaining access to updated news items, as well as other timely and germane issues.
These laudable gestures by the Prince Dapo Abiodun led government will definitely put the Ministry of Information and the state at large in the lead in information gathering and dissemination, thereby conforming with the information age- 21 century. Also with the sophisticated equipment in the information sector, coupled with the conducive environment, every officers will be motivated and cannot but be productive.
Indeed, good times are back again into the resurgent Ministry of Information and Strategy.
By: Adeyinka Richard
Deputy Director, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Abeokuta
No comments:
Post a Comment