The Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy has reaffirmed its commitment to institutionalising transparent and citizen-focused communication across government.
Eko Hot News reports that this follows the successful conclusion of a two-day training programme for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The training, themed “Social Media as a Functional Component of the 21st Century Ministry of Information and Strategy,” repositioned social media as a governance tool. It focused on accountability, engagement, and trust-building rather than mere information dissemination.
Organised in collaboration with Open Arms Ltd, the initiative aimed to deepen digital capacity within the public service. Participants were equipped with practical tools to enhance responsiveness and improve public engagement in a fast-evolving digital space.
Declaring the programme open, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, described it as a strategic shift in government communication. He stressed that communication must be deliberate, system-driven, and aligned with the realities of a modern megacity.
Bajulaiye urged officers to move from reactive messaging to structured, policy-driven communication. He emphasised that clear and factual communication is central to good governance and public trust.
Lead facilitator, Prof. Leke Fakoya, charged participants to focus on measurable governance outcomes. He noted that social media must be treated as a frontline governance instrument requiring ethics, strategy, and proactive agenda-setting.
Facilitators highlighted crisis communication, verification, and speed as pillars of effective public engagement. Sessions also explored audience mapping, perception management, and the responsible integration of Artificial Intelligence as a support tool.
Director of the Social Media Department, Dr Olajide Atansuyi, described the training as a strategic investment in Lagos’ communication future. Participants adopted a unified action framework to strengthen crisis preparedness, fact-checking processes, and citizen-centred messaging.
The resolutions mark a cultural shift toward structured, accountable, and data-driven communication, reinforcing Lagos State’s drive for transparent and meaningful engagement with residents.
