The maiden edition of the Edo State Government Communications sector retreat organised by the State Ministry of Communication and Orientation was held yesterday at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City. The retreat had in attendance stakeholders from the various sectors of the communication industry, resource persons and media experts and was chaired by the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, Mrs Sarah Ajose-Adeogun.
Welcoming participants and invited dignitaries to the retreat, the state commissioner for Communication and Orientation Barr. Adaze Emwanta Esq. noted that the whole idea of the retreat was to bring together all stakeholders in the Communications sector in the state to aid stakeholders familiarization across the Edo State Government Communication Ecosystem.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Governor of Edo State Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu thanked the ministry for the retreat and stressed the importance of proper synergy between the tiers and arms of government for effective reportage which according to him needs careful scrutiny in the face of the new wave of social media misinformation.
On her part, the lead speaker at the event and Special Adviser to the governor on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, Mrs Sarah Ajose Adeogun pointed out that the whole idea of the retreat was to brainstorm and pull ideas on how best to bring about an effective communication system, and for such ideas to be productive there needs to be a synergy across stakeholders for the purpose of telling the Edo story. Other speakers like Dr. Elvis Omoregie
highlighted the importance of developing a framework for driving change within the sector especially with social media to ensure that all agencies are on the same page in promoting the activities of the administration.
The event ended with the presentation of awards to deserving individuals in the media sector who had contributed their role in the development of the communications sector in Edo state.
