ICT adoption paramount to driving government’s plans, policies — Ogun HoS

The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, has urged information managers to embrace Information Communication Technology tools for effective information dissemination, which is central to mobilising and ensuring the success of government programmes and policies.

Onasanya made this call in a statement released on Thursday while declaring open a two-day training programme titled “Upscaling Public Information Management through Strategic Public Relations” for Information/Public Relations Officers in government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The training, organised by the Bureau of Establishments and Training under the Office of the Head of Service, was held at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

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The Head of Service emphasised the importance of the training in improving the practices of Information/Public Relations Officers to enhance effective governance in Ogun State. He also expressed gratitude to Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for his investment in the capacity building of the entire workforce.

He said: “We must all realise that the world of information management for government institutions has changed dramatically compared to how it was practised in the pre-ICT era.”

“The participants in this training must learn to utilise the transition from the industrial age to the knowledge age, which is driven by technology and social media as its by-product, to perform their duties with competence despite operational challenges.”

Onasanya noted that the training also aimed to promote efficiency and effective work ethics among media managers, addressing core areas of information management, including the creation of a robust feedback mechanism to bridge the gap between the government and the governed.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Communication, Kayode Akinmade, in his address, said the training was necessary, as a significant information management gap had been identified in the state.

Akinmade explained that the gaps ranged from a lack of requisite knowledge and expertise to the limited roles played by information handlers. He added that the training would provide participants with the necessary skills to excel in their statutory duties.

He encouraged participants to ensure the government remains in constant touch with the public through the media, warning that any media space left unused would be exploited by detractors.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mrs Lydia Fajounbo, highlighted the agency’s primary responsibility of building workforce capacity for excellent service delivery.

Fajounbo stressed the importance of training in projecting the government’s image through accurate reporting of its programmes and policies, adding that media managers must be equipped with the necessary skills to meet today’s demands for optimum performance.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Mr Waheed Adesina, thanked the governor and the Head of Service for the opportunity to train the information officers, ensuring they are fully prepared to carry out their statutory duties of positively and promptly projecting government activities.

Other speakers at the training included Dr Niran Malaolu, former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Demola Badejo, a former Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Chief Fassy Yusuf, a former Commissioner for Information, Hon Tunde Tella, Chairman of the House Committee on Establishments and Training, and his counterparts from the Information and Education committees, Hon Segun Kaka.