For the records: Ogun State Head of Service Speech at training workshop for journalists

Address delivered by Head of service of Ogun state, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, at the opening ceremony of a 2 – day training programme organised for information and public relations officers with government media journalists in ogun state held at the obas’ complex, oke-mosan, abeokuta on Wednesday, 18th September, 2024

Protocols

It gladdens my heart to identify with Media Experts and Information managers at this training programme organized for Information and Public Relations Officers and Government Media Journalists here in Ogun State. This nostalgic gathering is not just another event on our calendar, but a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the skills and competencies of our role as torchbearer of the Government image, visions, policies and programmes to the general public and the world at large. Our role, therefore, to give the desired spotlight to the activities of the Government cannot be over-emphasized.

You will also agree with me that information dissemination as it affects Government policies and programmes on the media to the general public are so fragile and sensitive that it cannot be toiled with. Therefore, this two (2) – day programme with the theme “Upscaling Public Information Management through Strategic Public Relations” has been carefully put together to be the first of its kind after Ogun State domesticated the resolution of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) that re-designated the Information Officer Cadre to Information and Public Relations Officer Cadre in the Country.

Permit me to say that I derive the greatest joy that this training is holding because of the sentiments and emotional attachment that I have to these crops of information and media professionals, having had a significant part of my career in the Public Service as one of you. Expectedly, a good portion of my heart goes after every initiative that could be deployed to improve the practise of this target group in order to enhance effective governance in Ogun State, especially under the present dynamic leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON.

Suffice it to state that we must all realize that the world of Information Management for government institutions has changed dramatically from how it was practiced in our early years as Information Officers. That time, we had to put up with the drudgery of manual production of the OGIS bulletin, sending news stories to Journalists through Fax and Telex which sometimes required that you shout on top of your voice without total assurance that the receiver of your message got the entire message as you intended to relay it. As Information Officers, we had to rely on our photographers for pictorial complements of our stories, and the videographer, if there was need to circulate such stories to television stations.

However, despite the besetting challenges, we were kept going through stoic determination and the desire to add value. Some of us were personally motivated by the ambition to succeed and reach the zenith of our career in Service. There was an excellent spirit of competition amongst us as younger practitioners. I am most delighted that today I have evidence in my bosom friend and colleague, Tope Adaramola. We were always eager to write feature articles that would bore our cherished bylines. All Information Officers manned their respective beats with enormous competence and reliability, despite operational challenges.

Happily, the environment has changed today; we have transitioned from the industrial age of practice to the knowledge age, driven by the kinetics of Information Technology and the Social Media as its by-product. On snap of the finger, news are generated and relayed in nanoseconds. Every one with a good mobile phone is now a news reporter and peddler of information that have capacity to influence public opinion and perception. Good as this development is, it is posing a serious existential challenge to media officers and Information Officers, necessitating the need for them to continually retool their practise and world outlook, in order to remain relevant in their practice.

In view of the need to attune this special crop of public servants to contemporary dynamics of practice, it is pleasing that the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON in his characteristic understanding gave approval for this training. I, therefore, specially appreciate His Excellency for granting speedy approval to this training as one of the continuous empowerment series for Public Officers in the employment of the State Government. Evidently, through several initiatives, the Governor has continued to give practical credence to the fact that the Civil Service is the ‘engine room’ of any successful government and as such, all efforts must be made to empower it. This is another glowing testimonial of that support. We must all therefore reciprocate the good gesture of government by being more efficient and adding more value to the operation and success of the present administration towards achieving its set goals of re-writing the social, economic and structural development of our great State.

Distinguished participants, in order to achieve the intentions of this training, it is heart-warming that we have an assemblage of highly resourceful professionals, many of whom have successfully threaded this path and excelled in imparting knowledge. I must mention that we would be having the likes of Barr. Demola Badejo, a former Information Officer, Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of the NUJ, Clerk of the House of Assembly and retired Permanent Secretary share experience with participants.

In the same mould, we would have the likes of respected Gbenga Gbesan, a veteran teacher of communication and media influencer handle a topic, while other erudite professionals, media and PR icons like Mr. Femi Dokunmu and Dare Folarin, a former Press Secretary would be dilating on resourceful topics. I am elated to also inform that we have the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Department of Mass Communication of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Ayodele Thomas Odunlami as one of our resource persons. Prof. is another pride of the Pen Profession and a renowned TV Reporter who is a colossus in the academic world.

Of course, I must not fail to note that the Bureau of Establishments and Training, under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo have ingenuously brought to the fore the need to readdress the minds of the participants on the mission of the present administration under His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, and this would be taken by our respected Mr. Jola Oyeneye, mni, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Service Reforms. I have no iota of doubt that we would all be enriched, knowledge wise, to know what to communicate about the pragmatic strides of the government and how to pass them across more effectively. I, therefore, appreciate the Bureau in this regard and also commend its unrelenting efforts at ensuring that quality training is provided to the teeming workers in Ogun State, irrespective of Agency, Cadre or Grade Level.

As this training also aims to promote personal efficiency and effective work ethics of participants, I am certain that it will be able address core areas of information management as well as the feedback mechanism aspect in order to bridge the gap between the government and the governed. I am equally confident that the knowledge and skills gained through this training programme will not only improve individual performance but also contribute significantly to the overall development of Ogun State.

Once again, I express my utmost delight to be present here in the midst of you all, my professional colleagues and on this note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare this training open and wish you all rewarding sessions over the next two days. I have the assurance that the outcomes of this training will have a lasting impact on the productivity of you participants and ultimately, on the continued successes of the Public Service of Ogun State.

Thank you all for your attention and God bless.

Igbega Ipinle Ogun, Ajose Gbogbo Wa Ni!!!

Kehinde O. Onasanya, MNIPR

Head of Service, Ogun State

18th September, 2024.

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