The United States Agency for International Development, State2State Communication Specialist, Mr. Israel Odiba has urged information officers in Gombe State to be proactive in the dissemination of activities of their respective ministries,departments and agencies to enhance good governance.
Mr Odiba stated this during a 3-day workshop which held at the Emerald Royal Hill Hotel Gombe with the theme ‘Orientation on state communication strategy and development of scope of work for information Officers in Gombe state’ drawn from key ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) and local government areas.
He explained that evidence has shown that communication activities can help achieve sustainable public sector reforms,foster support by influencing opinion attitudes and behaviour change, therefore information Officers are saddle with the responsibility of disseminating information to the Public using modern communication tools and platforms.
Odiba asked for collaboration with his agency to enhance capacity of information Officers in Gombe state.
The Gombe field office state2state local governance manager Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar Hashidu who delivered the key note address urged participants at the workshop to be proactive in their roles as information Officers of various MDA’s and LGAs and also to embrace inclusivity by including people living with disabilities in there reporting.
She charged them to avoid discriminatory languages and as well make there communication disability inclusive and accessible to promote inclusion and participation.
State2state Communication Specialists and one of the resource persons at the workshop, Mr. Kayode Onalorin gave an overview on tools and platforms for effective communication strategy.
‘He said that carefully examining tools and platforms can ensure that their communication strategies are effective, inclusive and aligned with the goals of development initiatives’
Also speaking at the workshop the Senior Special Assistant New media to the Executive Governor of Gombe State Suleiman Musa Arzo appreciated state2state for organising this spectacular workshop stating that it is timely and will help bring about synergy in the promotion of Government programs and policys.
Arzo who said the event is in line with the policies of the present administration in the state of ensuring proper dissemination of information, further urged the participants to showcase knowledge and skills acquired from the workshop and put them in use using various tools and platforms.
The Gombe state chairman Nigerian Union of Journalist, Comrade Saidu Bappa Malala, appreciated state2state for the training saying it will go a long way in the dissemination of Government activities and policies.
He said this will achieve effectiveness, accountability and transparency in Governance.
Malala also pointed out challenges faced by information Officers and other communication experts to include inadequate manpower, skills and logistics.
He further solicited for more training and retraining of members to be skilled in writing balanced and inclusive news reports and press releases.
Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that the workshop is a morale booster and eye opener that has enhanced and increase their knowledge to bridge the gap in information dissemination using modern communication tools and platforms effectively.
