INFORMATION Officers in Anambra have been urged to strive for timely access to right information, so as to always report accurately.

“However, you must also endeavour to focus more on the positive sides of life and accomplishments of government rather than on the negatives,’’ said Prof. B.A.C Obiefuna, university don,  said.

Obiefuna of the Department of Religion and Human Relations, Nnamdi Azikiwe, University, spoke during the 2018 Information Management Conference hosted by the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ.

He enjoined information officers to desist from abusing information in the face of the social media.

“You must strive to ensure that there is a departure in your approach to news presentation, so that you do not lose relevance by adopting the same loose pattern as the social media.’’

The event, which was held at the Conference Hall of the office of the Head of Service, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka has as its theme: “Information Management in The Era of Social Media: The Challenges and Way Forward’’.

Venatus Agbanu, associate professor and head, Mass Communication Department, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University,COOU, Igbariam, emphasized that “the threat of social media is more on the content being disseminated to users rather than the media itself’’.

Agbanu, urged information officers to always ensure that their messages have attributions, unlike some social media practitioners who, thrive on fake, unverified and unreliable news.

“While using the platforms of social media because of their speed, we must strive to ensure that the messages are based on truth. They must be objective rather subjective.

“At such high speed that social media operates, it becomes useful as information arrives at everybody’s doorstep but we must use the platforms with extreme caution so as not to breed ‘lazy’ media practitioners,” he added.

Adinuba, commissioner for information and public enlightenment, stressed the importance of social mobilisation of officers to readily source positive information for members of the public on state government achievements.

Adinuba commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra for creating different social values that encourage solidarity, peace, comradeship and friendship and also helping in promoting Anambra as socially harmonious state.

Anthony Nweke, chairman of the State Information Chapel, expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the conference as the speakers ignited the enthusiasm in the information officers for proper reportage.

He commended the information commissioner over his many achievements, within a short while that he assumed office.

Nweke, then, pledged the continued support of the staff.

Josephat Akabuike, commissioner for Health, who was chairman of the event, was represented by his permanent secretary ministry of health, John Ndibe.

– Jul. 12, 2018 @ 19:35 GMT |