Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
October 19, 2015 – The newly appointed Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde has vowed that he and his team of professionals would live up to expectations of the people by selling the brand called Lagos State since we are the “Faces and Voices” of the state.
Addressing management and staff of the Ministry at a short reception held in his honour after he was sworn in by the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Ayorinde observed that though there are 22 Ministries with specific functions, but that the only Ministry that works hand-in-hand with all the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as communicate with the public on their behalf is the Ministry of Information and Strategy.
He stated that the business of information and communication is changing and the landscape is also changing, adding that the language of communication is now “Digital Language”.
“Now the business of information and communication has changed. It has changed because the landscape is transforming. The paradigm has changed and we will need to adapt to the changes”, he said, adding that a large percentage of the people the Ministry will be communicating with now understands the digital language and social media.
While noting that the Ministry and its Agencies are presently blessed with seasoned professionals who have been tested and trusted, he urged the staff to brace up for the new challenge ahead, stating that the major role everyone would be expected to play is to communicate the brand Lagos State.
He averred that the dwindling revenue of the country, occasioned by the sliding prices of crude oil will put enormous pressure on Lagos State in terms of increased influx of people seeking greener pasture which will then necessitate the need for the State Information Managers to brace up to communicate on why some challenges will be experienced and government efforts at tackling them.
The new Commissioner reiterated that all hands must be on deck in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the present administration, promising that “he is ready to be a friend and, as much as possible, a colleague”.
According to him, “Our roles are crucial in making sure we deliver on what is necessary, l will be a friend and will try as much as possible to be a colleague”.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, who was visibly excited to introduce the new Commissioner to the staff, said the ministry was happy and glad to know that a round peg has been put in a round hole with the appointment of the new Commissioner.
He stated that the Ministry is endowed with professionals, who have been doing their best to communicate with the whole state in a language they understand, saying “I have the experience of leading this Ministry in the past three months and I can attest to it that indeed we are blessed with professionals”.
“With you coming on board now, and your wealth of experience, I have no doubt that we are going to consolidate on the gains of recent time and take the Ministry along the path of professionalism which is what I have been trying to do in the past three months since my appointment as the Permanent Secretary”, he said.
