By Ilochonwu Chigozie Bennett.
Considering the enormous and arduous responsibility of protecting the image of the Federal Government through effective and efficient projection and propagations of her approved policies and programmes, the Information Ministry cannot but assert its role as the engine room and driver of Government's vehicle of goodwill across the country.
The reality on ground where the public is lacking in necessary information brings to the fore, a need to reinvent the good old days when the Public Enlightenment Unit of our highly revered Ministry routinely embarks on intensive community-based public orientation on government policies and programmes. Without arms and dangerous weapon, the combative and indefatigable staff, l can recall vividly, quietly waged war against envisaged public apathy against Government policies.
The Public Enlightenment crew achieved the feat through the conduct of opinion-polls by administering questionnaires and distributing handbills with well considered messages that were complemented with powerful vocal public enlightenment campaigns. It was no fiction. I worked with this crew. Armed with a well-equipped Land Rover Jeeps that have in-built Public Address System, and from the East to the West, to the North and South, the Ministry's enlightenment jingles that conveyed same message thrusts but packaged in different dialects of every tribe in Nigeria, make their impact on the people.
With the aid of projector's and other gadgets that are on-board the Land Rover jeeps, films that illustrate the gains associated with adhering to government policies, were transmitted to the viewing public with intermittent explanations from the team leader. The joy and excitement derived from being part of the exercise which includes the distribution of our Ministry's "Interpreter", a journal which explains the whys and how of government policies, was a must-read by many Nigerians. Posters, handbills and other journals were also distributed freely and generously. It is better experienced that imagined. It is rather disheartening that the frenzy these induced especially, in rural dwellers who watch the films alongside their wards, made the impact, trans-generational. But, these were cut short with the stoppage of this laudable initiative.
Nothing doused the failed nerves of many Nigerians like the visitations of the enlightenment campaign teams. It gave them a sense of belonging and rekindled their hope that there is surely light at the end of the tunnel. The people feel that, FG representatives were visiting their domain, to elucidate certain policy thrusts; this assuages their apathy and anger and thrills them to no end. I can hardly forget the campaigns on Tree Planting; Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), War Against Indiscipline; and many more that were championed by the Information Ministry then.
Gone are the days when the green Land Rovers were used in announcing upcoming Federal Government events and activities across the country by Federal Information Centers and during the October, 1st Independence Days and 27th May, Children's Day Celebrations.
During these events, politicians, royal fathers, academia and other personages, especially school children, on sighting the Land Rovers with the Green White Green colour and school bell symbol, become awe stricken, for it is a mark of Federal Government's presence. It was indeed splendid to be one of those alighting from the vehicle. You were considered a very important person by the audience. That exactly was the fun then, and not the pay packet that was nothing to write home about.
Undoubtedly, the campaigns brought dignity and honour to the traditional institutions as their palaces served as venues and camps for the team. The tours further created opportunities for communities to request for the PA system during their self-help project launchings, coronations and other social events that were reported by the same crew. Though there has been resuscitation of printing of handbills recently, all the Federal Information Centers and Sub-centers were beehives of activities as visitors besieged the offices to collect posters, handbills, The Interpreter and other journals, free-of-charge. Nothing, in my humble opinion will ever create awareness and popularize the Ministry like those journals and the campaign tours.
Prominent among the laudable achievements recorded during the campaign days was its ability to foster wider acceptability for drastic and hard-biting economic policies before their introduction and pronouncement by the Federal Government, thereby providing a safe-landing for those policies and creating room for objective criticisms instead of open condemnation.
It is based on the points enumerated above that l strongly advocate for the reintroduction of the moribund public enlightenment campaigns that were abruptly terminated, for the gains associated with it, is inexhaustible and inestimable.
Apart from promoting unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, the opinion-poll results enhanced and accelerated processes of budgetary planning/allocations, which in turn translated to human capital development and industrial growth in the country. All these are now history and the result is the ugly development.
On the part of the staff, there is no gainsaying the fact that the Information Officer was regarded as the doyen and cynosure of eyes of the citizenry. This spurred them to hard work. The excitement of the tour made Information Officers exude the aura of accomplishment wherever they go. Regrettably, that spirit has disappeared and gone with the wind. The equipment which has gone comatose needs to be revitalized and taken back to work. I cannot help but state the need to reintroduce, reactivate and re-energize the Public Enlightenment Unit. The Jingles being used in government-owned television and radio station do not have far-reaching effect like the open campaigns that were conducted through direct communication. These, if done, will enhance the intellectual growth and development of Information staff.
Ilochonwu Chigozie Bennett wrote from Federal Information Centre, Owerri.Print PDF
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria