The Honourable Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, has urged State Information Officers to demonstrate greater activeness and efficiency in discharging their duties across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He gave the charge during a training session held for the officers. According to him, the training is an opportunity for personal and career development. He encouraged the participants to take it seriously.
Prince Kanu stressed the importance of public relations in government. He said Information Officers must understand their roles, learn how to create useful content, and know how to use social media tools properly to reach the public.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu, expressed concern about how some Information Officers are treated in their workplaces. He noted that in many MDAs, the presence of the officers is hardly felt.
Sir Onwuegbu urged the officers to improve their communication skills and conduct themselves professionally. He also called on MDA heads to give more support and recognition to their Information Officers.
Resource persons from Feman Media Agency Limited, Jennifer Obiekwugo and Gerald Okeke—who represented the State Chief Information Officer—spoke at the training on how to properly share information with the public which included reporting on project launches, site visits, policy updates, government achievements, and community outreach programmes.
Jennifer Obiekwugo
The training also featured group discussions where participants talked about the challenges they face in their jobs. They suggested ways to improve their working conditions, access to tools, and overall effectiveness in the field.
The event aimed to equip Information Officers with the right knowledge and skills to better serve their MDAs and the public at large.
