By Osondu Ahirika
The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke, has commended the African Media Network, AMNET for organizing a workshop to train journalists, information managers, communications experts and media enthusiasts on the nuances of effectively utilizing the New Media.
Barrister Luke gave the commendation while making remarks as a Special Guest of Honour during the opening session of the Workshop on New Media, with the theme, 'Optimizing New Media Opportunities and Managing Electronic media Vandalism', organized by African Media Network, held at the Best Western Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Represented by the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Information, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ime Okon , Speaker Luke said the workshop is timely and is important, as the Nigeria media space needs professional handling in terms of quality of information and the manner of circulation.
The Speaker maintained that, this is more expedient given the latest all encompassing role of the Social Media in the country's information system. He charged participants to learn and take the briefs seriously, so that, they can best shape politics, institutional governance and even corporate culture in a constructive way. He said the Workshop will increase capacity in New Media use and management, and charged participants to consider the potencies and potentials of the New Media as an instrument of change and take advantage of same.
In his welcome Address, former Akwa Ibom State Information and Communications Commissioner and President of AMNET, Elder Aniekan UMANAH, said the two day workshop is designed to equip participants on how to develop new strategies for harnessing the unlimited power of New Media in advancing organizational goals and objectives. Elder Umanah stressed that, at the end of the Workshop, participants will be able to come to terms with the wide ranged and diverse innovations in the media space.
Elder Umanah explained that, the workshop will touch many areas, such as, the need for key officials saddled with new media management responsibilities to be equipped with requisite knowledge and skills needed to confront the hydra headed virtual monster and position organizations for improved productivity and acceptability in our society at large.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Registrar /CEO, Advertising Council of Nigeria, APCON, Alhaji Bello kankarofi, described the Workshop as worthwhile and commended AMNET for putting it to. Alhaji kankarofi expressed confidence that, with the array of personalities and resource persons behind the Workshop, participants and their sponsors will benefit tremendously from the experience. He accordingly recommended that every government agency, department or Ministry should set up a New Media Unit and get professionals to manage their communications business.
The workshop is for Commissioners for Information, Permanent Secretaries, Legislators, Media Assistants and Chief Executive of corporate organizations.
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