Nation
Minister Seeks Media, Stakeholder’s Cooperation On Effective Communication
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has called for collaboration with media and stakeholders to enhance effective communication and mandate delivery of the Ministry.
Farouq made the call recently at the Communication, Consultative Forum with the media, partners and stakeholders in Abuja.
According to her, this is with a view to strengthening the communications activities of the Ministry and all humanitarian actors in Nigeria.
She explained that such collaboration would go a long way to ultimately enhance sharing of knowledge, expertise and wider publicity on the enormous works that the ministry was doing and delivery on its mandate.
“Humanitarian crisis, disasters and social issues are complex in nature, so also, communicating these complexities to multiple players and the public requires the adoption of a coherent, cohesive and coordinated approach.
“This approach requires communication solutions that provide information, advisories and guidance across a broad range of issues to all groups, partners, stakeholders, people of concern and publics within the mandate of the ministry, the agencies under its supervision and other stakeholders.
“This is why the Ministry continues to work assiduously to ensure our communications activities goes beyond duty bound approaches to more intentional and intrinsic connections with all stakeholders, partners and the public.
“While carrying out our mandate, we are aware of the important role of effective communications in ensuring that the tremendous work being done is properly communicated to the public.
“This is why we have put in a lot of effort to ensure that all programmes, activities and interventions of the Ministry are well communicated across print, electronic and online media,” she said.
She said discussions and ideas from the Forum were expected to form the foundation of information and experience sharing that would lead to the development of a Communication Strategy to serve as a guide for effective communication for the Ministry and all actors in the Humanitarian space in Nigeria.
“The Communication Strategy to be developed is not intended to duplicate or replace any Partner/Stakeholders existing communication, media or advocacy activities or tamper with their brand identity.
“Rather it will identify strategic ways that joint communications can help each achieve their vision and the community achieve their collective vision and goals.
“Ultimately, it will ensure excellent communications fueled by good intra-organisational and inter-organisational communication and connection,” Farouq said.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Strategic Communication, Mrs Halima Oyelade, gave an overview of the Forum, saying communication was very important because it influences people on the choices they make.
According to her, lack of communication will create a big gap in the activities of organisations, adding that without communication, the public may not be aware of the activities of government.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), said the purpose of the programme was to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
According to him, NSIP is doing a lot and there is need to communication the remarkable achievements of the programme via effective communication.
Also, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Maun Yusuf, the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, in his presentation ‘Counter Insurgency Operation; Strategic Communication versus the Rules of Engagement’ said there were Kinetic and non-kinetics approach to war against insurgency.
Yusuf said criticism against the military in war against insurgency demoralized the gallant troupes in battle field, adding that giving the insurgents and bandits more publicity was not helping the country.
He called for patriotism from the media and other stakeholders to boost the morale of the Nigerian military in the war against insurgency, kidnapping and banditry in the country.
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The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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