USAID State2state Trains Information and Communication Officers on Improved Governance Communication in Akwa Ibom
By Ekemini Simon
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity has trained Information and Communication Officers in Akwa Ibom State on how to effectively communicate with citizens and state actors hence bridge the gap between government and the people.
In a two day Communication Strategy Implementation Progress Review workshop held in Uyo, State2state reviewed how information officers from the Primary Health, Basic Education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Internally Generated Revenue and Budget Offices/Finance Sector have been able to use the communication strategy adopted in the state in 2023 in the discharge of their duties.
Addressing participants, the USAID State2State Communication Specialist, Nneka Acholonu Egbuna, said the workshop was designed to know the extent to which the State Information Officers have used the communication Strategy in their work.
She reminded participants that the Communication Strategy was a tool that was developed by staff of Ministry of Information together with other stakeholders on how communication can be more effective in engaging citizens in governance so that citizens can be carried along to know what government is doing and also express their views over government policies, plans and actions in a way that will make government respond positively .
While noting that the Communication Strategy is a tool that is supposed to bridge the gap between government and the people, Egbuna said the Communication Strategy was developed after a research was carried out by State2state to see how government is delivering services in State2state sector of interest within the State and Local Government Areas.
She said from the research, it was discovered that the relationship between government and citizens, citizen groups, Civil Society Organisations witnessed some gaps that could have been addressed through an effective communication Strategy.
The State2state Communication Specialist noted that with the Communication Strategy, opportunities for a two way communication between government and citizens have been enhanced and it will invariably promote the objective of State2state which is Transparency , Accountability and Effectiveness in governance.
She added “In all these, what we want to see is Open Governance where citizens have access to information on what the government is doing. This is to avoid misinformation or issues that will raise conflict.”
On his part, the Team Lead of State2state Activity in Akwa Ibom State, Borve Paago-Imabel in his welcome remarks commended the Information and Communication Officers for availing themselves for the training. He said State2state is poised on improving, contributing to reforms that will engender not just open governance but people-centred government in Akwa Ibom State.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. James Edet thanked State2state for remaining steadfast in the training of Information and Communication Officers.
He said the Ministry was delighted over the fact that State2state have moved beyond training to become strategic Partners with the ministry in order to empower the Ministry to be on top of their responsibility.
He said one of the dividends of adopting the Communication Strategy is the State Government’s change in the dynamics of budgetary governance by making the budget process more participatory with citizens at the centre.
Edet noted that the training they have received had significantly helped the ministry when they presented their 2025 budget before the Governor.
He added “We deeply appreciate the investment State2State is making in our Ministry. It is beginning to yield results and we assure you that it will bring more results. We call on you to sustain this partnership for the development of our state and the society.”