News

 

The Honourable Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi State, Chief Barr. Ikeuwa Omebeh, today, held his maiden familiarization meeting with the Information and Public Relations Officers (IPROs) drawn from the various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the thirteen Local Government Areas of the state.

The strategic meeting, which took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abakaliki, was convened to brainstorm on ways to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the IPROs. It also aimed at repositioning the Ministry of Information and State Orientation to effectively contribute to the realization of the People’s Charter of Needs mantra of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru's led administration through timely, adequate, and effective information gathering and dissemination.

Addressing the Information and Public Relations Officers, Chief Barr. Ikeuwa Omebeh charged them to become visible ambassadors of the Ministry in their various places of primary assignments. He emphasized the need for them to be proactive, committed and as well maintain high sense of display of professionalism in the discharge of their duties so as to ensure that the presence of the ministry is strongly felt across the state.

The Commissioner stressed that efforts must be made not only to justify their pay but to contribute meaningfully to the progress and development of Ebonyi State and the society at large. He reaffirmed his commitment to creating a conducive working environment for the IPROs to discharge their duties effectively, while soliciting their maximum cooperation to enable him succeed in his new area of engagement.

Chief Barr. Omebeh further assured the IPROs that he would liaise with the Chief Executives of Local Government Areas and heads of MDAs to establish supportive and enabling environments for the IPROs to thrive. He urged them to leverage all available platforms and technologies to remain relevant and impactful in their roles.

The meeting also served as an interactive platform for the IPROs to voice some of the challenges hindering their optimal performances. Among the issues raised were: lack of recognition in their places of assignment, the usurping of their responsibilities by politically-appointed media aides, limited access to vital information, inadequate motivation or support from their superiors, and the absence of necessary work tools such as smartphones and electronic devices.

In response, the IPROs appealed to the Honourable Commissioner to help facilitate the training and retraining of the officers, issuance of identification cards, and provision of modern tools needed to function efficiently in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.

Also present at the meeting were key officials of the Ministry of Information and State Orientation including the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Nwobasi; Director of Information, Elder Anya Kama Egwu; the UNICEF Desk Officer, Mrs. Chinenye Azu Udu, the HOD of Administration, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Anoke, the HOD of Film and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Eugene Ebenyi (KJSI) and the Cashier, Mrs. Assa Charity.

The meeting ended with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment from both the commissioner and the IPROs to reposition the ministry as the leading voice of the government and the people of Ebonyi State.