Indubitably, the systems and patterns of governance
have differed from place to place but however, in most cases, the structures
are strikingly more or less the same. Be it a parliamentary, a presidential or
a monarchical system, there are permanent working structures of the government
that aid in the day to day activities of the government. In our basic
understanding of government, the Executive arm of government has always the
responsibility of policy formulation and implementation of ideas of the any
elected government. Governments do set up ministries, departments and agencies
that would liaise with other arms of government and other parastatals in
achieving its developmental plans and blueprints. These establishments would go
in no mean way in lessening the burden of governance placed on the few elected
executives. There duties and impact become very pivotal in the real
administration of governance.
Globalisation and technological advancement have made
for easy and unrestricted access to ‘information’. Through the internet, social
media and other media outlets, the people access information and news at their
own convenience. Sadly, this has been seriously abused due to the activities of
online mongers who specialize in peddling rumours, fake news, vendetta and
propaganda for selfish political, social or economic gains. This has made
information management a very important aspect for any elected government or a
corporate organization. This has galvanized them all over the world to
establish permanent, robust and vibrant structures for effective and efficient
information delivery. This has really helped in checkmating these aforementioned
excesses and has provided the people with very objective and enlightened
information where and when necessary.
The administration of Governor Willie Obiano since
inception in 2014 has towed along this line in running the affairs of the government
which has brought unprecedented success till date. Bearing in mind its cardinal
four pillars of Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Trade and Commerce and
Industrialization, this administration set up and ministries and government
agencies using the twelve enablers of Security, Education, Health, Roads and
Social Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Environment, Transport,
Finance, Electricity, Women’s Welfare, Tourism, Youth Development and
Entrepreneurship as springboards. This has brought genuine economic, social and
physical development to the state and to the people. Of greatest importance to
his administration is the Information Ministry which greatly publicizes the
many achievements of his administrations to Anambrarians and indeed to
Nigerians both at home and in diaspora.
Interestingly, since the inception of the nascent
democracy in Anambra state, the Ministry charged with this responsibility of
getting the people informed of the relevant happenings of the government have
taken different shape and focus specifications. During its early days, the
Ministry had two diverse focus namely Information and Culture. This for me,
restricted effective information delivery because of the complexities and
intricacies involved in Culture management. At a time, it metamorphosed into
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the demand got widened. The
focus was on three different aspects of human life which greatly suppressed
efficient information output. It was not long ago under this present administration
that things were done appropriately. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs was
loaded with the responsibility of housing Indigenous Artworks, Culture and
Tourism while Communication Strategy was added to the Ministry of Information
hence a paradigm shift in the status quo. In a bid to further furnish and
rebrand the Ministry to serve the people better in line with international best
practices, the Ministry was changed to Ministry of Information and Public
Enlightenment with a mandate of providing the requisite information and
enlightenment on public interest initiatives of Ndi Anambra through strategic
facilitations and interactions.
Currently, the Ministry of Information and Public
Enlightenment of the Anambra State Government has continued to actualize its
vision of providing informed enlightenment on government and public interest
for ndi Anambra and other groups in the world through publication in state and
national dailies, promoting awareness of government activities and engaging the
relevant media outlets in their roles of partnering the government in safe
information delivery. It has also lived up to her billing in the accomplishment
of her mission which is centred on structuring a robust information delivery
approach based on the Willie Obiano’s pillars and enablers in engaging ndi
Anambra and all stakeholders towards the attainment of shared values and
aspirations by liaising with other agencies of development within and outside
the state on the best way forward in achieving these set down goals and
providing the need enlightenment to the people n the successes so far.
As the image maker of this administration, this
Ministry has strived its possible best to always present this elected
government in good light through providing timely and enlightened information
about the activities of the government, engaging the media houses in showcasing
the laudable achievements and the various successes recorded in the different
sectors of development namely education, agriculture, infrastructure, youth
empowerment, trade, job creation, social and physical infrastructure, child and
women welfare, health etc. It has been
able to do this through the its five different departments which have been
engaged in writings, publications, press releases and conferences, researches,
carrying out enlightenment programmes, sensitization of the people,
documentation of government activities and partnering with relevant media
outlets in the state.
By the expiration of this current administration in
March 2022, this Ministry will pride herself as one which has really lived up
to the hype and expectations as far as information delivery and management is
concerned. With the adoption of modern information delivery techniques, methods
and styles, it has served not only the state government and the people but also
drawn admiration and recognition from renowned media bodies and agencies all
over the world. It has within this time under review changed the narratives in
terms of information input and output. One will be absolutely right to regard
the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment of Anambra State as the
elegant hub of the “Light of Nation” due to her many noble antecedents.
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PONSORED
