By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law
Mefor, on Friday, charged public relations practitioners to join hands with
Governor Chukwuma Soludo in rebuilding Anambra’s damaged reputation by joining
the government's moral rebirth campaign.
Mefor stated during the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Anambra
State Chapter's visit that the Ministry of Information's expanded mandate now
includes value reformation, making collaboration with PR professionals
essential.
He lamented that Anambra’s once-brilliant reputation as the ‘Light of the
Nation’ has been wounded in the last decade due to the erosion of core Igbo
values, including the criminalisation of Biafran agitation.
“The criminalisation of Biafra agitation has tarnished our reputation as a
people.” He stated, "We can agitate legally and politically, but not in
ways that harm our economy and portray Ndi Igbo negatively."
Linking reputation to security and social values, he warned against harmful
influences, particularly of fake pastors and native doctors who have acted as
enablers of crime.
“Fake native doctors and some fake pastors are even more dangerous than
criminals, because religion commands unquestioning loyalty. That is the
enormity of the work before us,” he said.
The commissioner welcomed NIPR’s request for closer ties and announced that
NIPR should be integrated into the Ministry of Information in the state,
similar to its role at the federal level, while also offering the institute
office space and approving training for information officers by the NIPR
Anambra chapter. He also proposed a joint implementation committee.
"Ordinarily, we should be the ones requesting you to retrain our 185
information officers, who are posted across MDAs, LGAs, and specialised
institutions." They have a dual mandate: to report MDA activities and to
serve as PROs. They clearly need PR training. We will address the matter
immediately.
Earlier, the NIPR State Chairman, Dr Ngozi Ulogu, said the institute wanted a
partnership with the ministry to counter rumours and promote the governor's
agenda.
“Through proper and strategic communication, we must ensure that the people of
Anambra understand the value of being an onye Anambra. Our goal is to counter
false stories and rumours with credible information,” she said.
The NIPR PRO, Mr Ogemdi Ozoemenam, added that all federal information officers
are members of the NIPR by extension and sought the same for Anambra’s
information officers.
Dr Chinedu Ekweonu, Secretary of the institute, noted that Anambra's
once-respected image has declined due to criminal activity, underscoring the
importance of Governor Soludo’s reorientation agenda to restore the region's
dignity.
The highlight of the event is the formal presentation of the invitation to the
NIPR 2026 Chapter Development Training and Workshop, scheduled for September
16, 2026, to the commissioner.
Post a Comment