48th National Council of Information, National Orientation begins in Kaduna

Information Managers have converged on Kaduna State North West Nigeria for the 48th National Council of Information and National Orientation, to galvanize on new approach to communication and public orientation to ensure an inclusive and empowered governance.

The Information Council with the theme: ‘Enhancing Public Information Management for Inclusive Governance: The Renewed Hope Agenda in Focus,’ underscores the pivotal role of information management in nation-building.

The 48th Information Council meeting, taking place in Kaduna State, after several years drew information managers across Nigeria to underscore the critical legislative support required to advance a shared goal of fostering a well-informed and cohesive society.

Welcoming participants, the Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mrs. Comfort Ajibade, stressed that to achieve an inclusive government, its policies and programs must be effectively communicated and understood.

“As we engage, we are reminded of the pivotal role of information management in actualizing the Renewed Hope Agenda. Our task, therefore, is to harmonize efforts across all tiers of government, leveraging our collective expertise to amplify the voice of governance and make it resonate with every Nigerian, regardless of their location or circumstance. The Council provides an opportunity to align our priorities, deliberate on innovative strategies, and explore collaborative frameworks that will enhance public information management. As custodians of public trust and advocates of inclusive governance, we must also ensure that ethics and values remain central to our orientation and communication strategies,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba-Ndace, said the organisation remains committed to shaping positive narratives about Nigeria at home and abroad.

“Voice of Nigeria is the only public platform that has the mandate to shape positive narratives about Nigeria and Nigerians, African and African. My role as Director General, Voice of Nigeria, since I came on board about one year, is to galvanise both internal and external resources to get Voice of Nigeria to be very intentional, unapologetic, and very consistent about shaping positive narratives about Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.

The Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, noted that NTA will continue to provide service to ensure the National information policy is effective.

“For us in the NTA, it is very, very key and important that we have to be part and parcel of the policy formulation of the information sector. So we are here to make our contributions and also to make sure that we key into the policy formulation of the national information policy. I mean pass information to the locals through all means, through the community stations and also state television stations that we have in the country,” he said.

According to the Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ebang, information is critical to good governance.

The Council meeting is to be officially declared open on Friday by the Kaduna state governor and will be chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.