Lokoja
September 2, 2026
The newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Awulu Tijani David, has pledged to support information officers and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Information Chapel, stressing the importance of effective communication in the implementation of government policies and programmes.
Awulu Tijani made the commitment on Wednesday in Lokoja when the leadership of the NUJ State Information Chapel, led by its Chairman, Mr. Solomon Musa, paid him a courtesy visit to formally introduce the newly elected executives.
The Permanent Secretary said information officers occupy an important position in government because they are responsible for communicating policies, programmes and achievements to the public.
Awulu Urges NUJ Leaders to Justify Members’ Trust
Awulu described leadership as both a privilege and a responsibility, urging the new chapel executives to remain accountable to members and work for their professional advancement and welfare.
He advised the leaders to justify the confidence members had placed in them through the election, stressing that the record of every person entrusted with responsibility would eventually speak for them.
“People trusted and elected you. It is my prayer that you succeed better than those who have been there before you,” he said.
He also assured the chapel leadership of his willingness to work with them to advance the information profession in Kogi State.
Information Officers Are the Ministry’s “Eyes”
Awulu emphasised the strategic role of information officers in government, describing them as the “eyes” of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
He said the effectiveness of the ministry depends substantially on the ability of its information officers to communicate government activities clearly and accurately to citizens.
“If the Ministry of Information does not do whatever it will take to make the information officers work well, then what are we here for? You are the eyes of the Ministry of Information. Without you, the ministry cannot do anything,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary therefore called for a working environment that enables information professionals to perform their duties effectively.
The emphasis on effective public communication comes as the Kogi government continues to communicate programmes across different sectors. The Bureau Journal recently reported on the state government’s plans to establish a cashew processing plant as part of efforts to attract investment and increase agricultural value addition.
Permanent Secretary Promises Open-Door Policy
Awulu encouraged members of the chapel to communicate their needs and challenges to his office, promising to address issues within his authority and refer matters requiring higher-level intervention to the appropriate authorities.
He said the ministry should be regarded as a shared workplace and assured the journalists and information officers that his office would remain accessible.
“This is your office; it is your home. Whenever you need the office to intervene, call on me. I don’t know everything that you do, and I am not a journalist; I am an administrator. That is why I need people to advise me,” he said.
Awulu also said his appointment as Permanent Secretary should not be interpreted as placing him above other members of the civil service, noting that others could rise to similar positions in the future.
Awulu Backs Professional Development
The Permanent Secretary commended the NUJ Information Chapel Chairman, Solomon Musa, whom he described as a humble and experienced professional familiar with the demands of information management.
He promised to support programmes aimed at improving the professional capacity and welfare of information officers, while asking the chapel to formally submit its proposals for consideration.
Professional capacity building is particularly relevant to government communication as information officers increasingly have to explain policies and public projects across traditional and digital media platforms.
In Kogi, the importance of clear communication has also featured in recent public discussions around government programmes. The Bureau Journal recently reported concerns raised by the Igala community over the distribution and transparency of World Bank-supported AGILE school projects in the state, an issue in which access to accurate public information was central to the debate.
NUJ Chapel Introduces New Executives
Earlier, Chairman Solomon Musa said the courtesy visit was organised to formally introduce the newly elected executives to the Permanent Secretary, whom he described as the Chief Accounting Officer of the ministry.
He said the chapel also sought the ministry’s continued support for its activities and professional programmes.
The new executives include Vice Chairman Mrs. Olajumoke Ajani, a State Information Officer with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Secretary Miss Gloria Amodu, a State Information Officer with the Ministry of Works; Treasurer Mr. Salau Ibrahim of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Financial Secretary Mrs. Mariam Tenimu, a State Information Officer with the Ministry of Environment; and Auditor Mr. Abah Benjamin Eneojoh Treasure, a State Information Officer at Government House.
Musa said the new leadership was committed to strengthening unity, professional development and collaboration among information officers working across ministries, departments and agencies.
Chapel Seeks Support for Annual Professional Programme
The NUJ Information Chapel chairman also appealed for continued ministry support for its annual professional and social programme, which brings together serving and retired information officers.
According to Musa, the programme provides an opportunity for former Permanent Secretaries, Directors and other retired professionals who served in the information sector to share their experiences with younger officers.
He said the inaugural edition held last year provided an avenue for knowledge transfer and mentorship and that the chapel plans to make this year’s edition larger.
The proposed programme will include a visit to an orphanage, sporting activities and professional lectures aimed at improving the capacity of members.
NUJ Chapel Seeks NIPR Enrolment Support
Musa also requested the ministry’s support for the enrolment of chapel members into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), saying the proposal had previously been discussed with the relevant authorities.
He said professional certification and continuous learning would help strengthen the capacity of information officers to meet the changing demands of public communication.
The chapel’s Auditor, Abah Benjamin Eneojoh, similarly appealed to Awulu to serve as a fatherly figure and strategic partner to the organisation.
Eneojoh said stronger institutional support for State Public Relations Officers and other information professionals would improve their ability to communicate government policies and programmes effectively.
Eneojoh Commends Information Commissioner Fanwo
Eneojoh also commended the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, for what he described as his consistent support for the activities of the chapel.
He said Fanwo had also contributed to efforts aimed at rebranding and repositioning Kogi State through effective communication.
The Permanent Secretary’s engagement with the NUJ Information Chapel comes at a time when communication remains an important part of how state governments explain policies, development projects and public initiatives to citizens.
For Kogi information officers, the commitment expressed by Awulu could provide an opportunity for closer cooperation between the ministry and the chapel, particularly in professional development, welfare and the effective dissemination of public information.
The Bureau Journal will continue to follow developments involving Kogi State’s information sector and the work of professionals responsible for communicating government activities to the public.
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