The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, has said that better media engagement by stakeholders would engender better recognition of programmes and projects by citizens.
Ponle was responding to a remark made by Ahmed Gombe, Special Adviser on Information Management and Strategy to Gov. Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe State, during a courtesy visit to NAN Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
Gombe had told NAN MD that the government and people of Gombe were surprised that the Gov. Yahaya was not recognised with a national honour during the recent conferment on notable Nigerians.
“So much has been achieved in Gombe State under His Excellency. Education, healthcare, infrastructure, revenue generation and other sectors have received significant boosts under his administration.
“This is why we were taken aback when he was not conferred with national honour. But then, we saw it as an opportunity to review our information management system,” he said.
Ponle said Yahaya and other hardworking governors who missed out on national honours was the lack of appropriate information management and strategic communication.
“Engaging the media is crucial to giving your principal’s achievements the necessary push.
“With your appointment and the kind of machinery you have set in motion, Gov. Yahaya is now clapping with both hands and we will play our part to make you successful in this new role,” the NAN MD said.
Ponle said that NAN and Gombe State would explore meaningful collaboration which would assist in projecting the activities and achievements of the state.
To achieve this, he said a Memorandum of Understanding with deliverables, inputs, timelines and evaluation, would be signed by NAN and the Gombe State Government.
Earlier, Gombe thanked the NAN MD for welcoming him with open arms, saying his visit was in recognition of the role NAN plays as an information powerhouse.
“My insistence on making this visit is deliberate for two reasons. NAN is a clearinghouse for news in Nigeria and I can’t fully achieve my new mandate without involving you.
“Also, I have a justifiable sense of belonging because I have other ties with NAN in other capacities. I believe that once you have NAN you have all,” he said.(NAN)