The Lagos State Government says its public affairs officers (PAOs) must embrace the digital media revolution or risk losing their relevance in the evolving communications landscape.
This call to action headlines the 2024 Management Retreat of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, held recently at The Orchid Hotels, Lekki, where top-level government communication professionals underwent strategic upskilling to keep pace with modern media trends.
Held under the theme “Image Management in a Digital Contemporary World,” the three-day retreat targets PAOs on Grade Levels 13 to 17, and marks a pivotal moment in the state’s effort to digitally reposition its communication architecture in support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda.
Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, makes it clear that the era of analogue communication is over for government communicators.
“It’s time for PAOs to step up and dominate the digital space,” Omotoso says, in a firm directive highlighting the strategic repositioning of public information officers in a digitally-driven world.
The retreat comes at a time when digital platforms are reshaping how Nigerians consume news, with government messaging needing to match the speed, accuracy and dynamism of today’s digital media ecosystem.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, reinforces this urgency, warning that government communicators must evolve or be left behind.
“Digital technology now controls what we do as media professionals,” Akosile tells participants. “This retreat should be an eye-opener for us because if we do not adapt to technology, our jobs will be at the receiving end.”
He charges the officers to become proactive advocates of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s achievements by strategically leveraging social and digital media to amplify impact and public understanding.
Beyond digital transformation, the retreat also serves a unifying purpose. Michael Olumide Sogunle, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, says the gathering is designed to strengthen collaboration among PAOs across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), creating a cohesive communication force for Lagos State.
The opening ceremony sees a strong turnout of stakeholders, including Jide Lawal, General Manager of Radio Lagos/Eko FM; Sola Kosoko, General Manager of Lagos Television; and other key directors across the Ministry and state-owned media.
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