The Akwa Ibom Ministry of Information and Strategy established its first-ever advertising division with the responsibility of creating and overseeing advertising materials for the State Government in addition to other duties.
Comrade Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, declared during the opening of the new unit on Monday at the ministry's headquarters in Uyo that the most recent development would make the creation of advertising content for the State Government easier and more affordable.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Akparawa James Edet, Ememobong said: “The essence of having an advertising unit in this Ministry, apart from the fact that it has the potential to generate revenue for the state, it is also very strategic in the sense that in today’s dynamic world of information management, there is the need to specialise in a wide range of areas in order to perform optimally “.
Justifying the move, the Commissioner said: “With the level of trainings that we have acquired in the last two years, there is no way this Ministry would remain the same. It is expected that as you return from the various trainings you have attended, you would be integrated into different areas so that we can scale up our performance as a Ministry”. He stated.
Responding on behalf of other members, the Head of the new unit and a certified member of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Mr. Idris Mabadeje, commended the initiative, describing it as visionary.
“I want to pledge that as pioneer members of a unit like this, and with the necessary support of everyone in this Ministry, we would do our best to deliver on our mandate in line with the ethics of the advertising profession,” Mabadeje said.
Director of Information and supervisor of the unit, Mrs. Blessing Urua, charged members of the new unit to brace up for their new roles so as to justify the confidence reposed in them by the management of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Information and Strategy has embarked on various trainings to equip staff for different roles, including certification in advertising practice for some of her personnel.
According to the Commissioner, the new unit is expected to become a one stop place for the handling of government advertising contents and publicity materials.
The unit will also integrate and collaborate with other units and departments of the Ministry to meet the diverse needs of advertising.