UYO
As part of measures toward ensuring professionalism and ethical conduct in the practice of Advertising, the Akwa Ibom government is to establish a directorate of advertising even as plans are ready for the training of On Air Personalities, (OAPs) and content creators on the rudiments of the practice.
The commissioner for information and strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated this, during a courtesy visit on him by members of state chapter of Advertising Practisioners Association, (APAAC), at the conference room of the ministry, Wednesday.
Ememobong said, since advertising was inevitable in the affairs of government, it behoves on all handlers of the sector to be brought together for synergy in the proper usage of advertising language, content creation and observation of laws guiding the profession.
“To this end, it has become expedient to put modalities in motion for the setting-up of the Directorate of Advertising in the ministry of information and strategy and commence the training of all calibre of government workers concerned with Content creation and graphic designs for advertising as well as Presenters and producers of programmes on Radio and Television to avoid breach of Advertising laws”, the commissioner for information and strategy said.
He pledged government’s readiness to collaborate with APAAC for efficiency in Advertising practice in the state reiterating that, since the association was set up by Law, it becomes imperative for relevant government’s establishments to work amicably with APAAC to achieve the desired goals.
Ememobong intimated that, as part of efforts to meet the challenges of the dynamic world, and be in tune with the realities of the society, the Management of the Ministry of Information and Strategy has approved the opening-up Sign and Foreign Language units even as training of staff for the two fields would commence soonest.
The chairman of the Akwa Ibom chapter of the Advertising Practitioners Association, (APAAC), Professor Nkereuwem Udoakah, thanked the State Information helmsman, Comrade Ini Ememobong for bringing Strategy to Ministry of Information, noting that he has witnessed topnotch strategy in public relations practice in the Ministry.
Udoaka explained that, APAAC is an offshot of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, (APCON), stating that, members came to the ministry to introduce themselves and express their readiness to work with the government towards strengthening Advertising practice in the state.
He enlisted the functions of APAAC to include: vetting of advertisements to avoid embarrassments and breach of the law guiding the practice by government and its agents, emphasising that the association will be of immense benefit to the state.
The head of APCON, Uyo, Mr Dijala Lawrence, commended the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong on his pledge to comply with Advertising laws in order to move the state and country forward and for encouraging staff to register with APCON.Lawrence urged the Information Commissioner to use his good offices to assist the Akwa Ibom University to get accreditation for Mass Commination departments, soliciting that, all advertisement processes in the state should pass through APCON.
He implored the Ministry of Information and Strategy to drum up to the public, the need to avoid the use of hate speeches during the upcoming electioneering campaigns in all advertising materials and during programme presentations as it attract penalties.
In attendance at the courtesy visit were, the management staff of the Ministry and the executives of APÀAC, including: the Director covering duties of the Permanent Secretary/Director of Information, Akparawa James Edet, Director of Technical Services, Mrs Blessing Urua, Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Grace Akpan, Director of Administration, Mrs. Tiuba Nduonofit, Director of Archives, Mr Edet Nsunwara and Head of PRS, Mr. Peter Antai.
Others were: the Secretary General of APAAC, Mr. Uwem Archibong, the Treasurer Mrs Alice Udo and the PRO, Ridmond Ekunife.
Discussion about this post