Yours in Yola with Chaste Inegbedion
In the Name of the Eight Goals-No-Nonsense
INTRODUCTION
In my pursuit of creation of awareness on the millenium development goals, I decided to sensitize members of the Adamawa State Government House. This sensitization project is important since the participants are the Gentlemen of the Press that work with the Government and as such; can be used to create awareness on millennium development goals faster - helping the public to understand the importance of achieving MDGs and creating maximum publicity to that effect becomes indispensable. The event took place at the Government House on the 6th of December, 2011 with participants above 40 in number. I Initiated a Forum called MDGs and You with the theme: MDGs Eight Goals No-Nonsense: A Perfect Partnership with PR’s and Government in the attainment of the MDGs target by 2015. A week after the exercise I also had a session at the Government House Chapel and St. Augustine Catholic Church, Bekaji with the theme Twelve Days of Christmas: MDGs: To God is the Glory!!! The Role of the Church in the attainment of the MDGs held on 12/12/10. The following details show the activities that took place during the interactive session.
ACTIVITIES
Introduction: on commencement of the event, members of the audience opened the event formally with prayers. I gave the essence of what the forum hopes to achieve with the second series starting with Public Relations and Government as two of the most viable tools in Government, known to have made significant progress in achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
To tackle the road blocks obstructing full achievements of the MDGs, I was prompted with support from the NYSC –MDGs, to invite delegates from the world of public relations in the Government House to my Personal Community Development Service (CDS) one of the cardinal points of the National Youth Service (NYSC).
· The Chief Press Secretary of the Governor, Majiamma Adamu officially inaugurate the second edition of the Forum which was chaired by the ‘Tarfa’s’ Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Adamawa State Chapter, Chairman, Andrawus Tarfa and Co-chaired by the Zonal Inspector Yola-North of the NYSC, Daniel Tarfa. Lead Speakers of the Forum include Secretary-General of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Adamu Dodo and the topic treated was mainstreaming public relations’ and political manifestos in achieving the MDGs and Award-winning Martha Speirs, Founder Karatu Library Foundation was represented by Mr. Benson shared with us articles on Libraries and Information services and the role of the Government: towards the attainment of the UN –MDGs while selected Government House Correspondents made up the panelist for the session.
· Way Forward in Relation to MDGs & You Forum: We discussed extensively, the role of every Public Relations Tool and Government. Despite these advance, progress made by these tool are marked by disparities and inequalities. There is growing apprehension of Nigeria’s achievement of the goals. The champions of MDGs should know that MDGs involve money. Money should be pumped into the society for MDGs volunteers. There is lack of awareness towards MDGs. MDGs funds are being diverted.
· For the politicians, sentiments in achieving MDGs were not part of the goals. The goals have not captured that. It is now left for politicians to know how they can convince the electorate in their manifestoes in achieving these goals.
· The media has been helping but should improve in propagating the MDGs
· Information aspect – building libraries and adequate dissemination of information
· When you fail to take up MDGs in your family. They will be affected directly or indirectly. Women and children in villages who have no infrastructural facilities are still related to you in one way or the other. Any where you are portrait good behaviors that affect everyone positively
· The tool needed is that it begins with you for example, if you say that it’s the government that will educate your child, you might wait for a long time.
· Questions and Answers: The participants required clarification on some of the items that were discussed; some of the answers were supplied by me and others by other participants.
· Conclusion: we concluded the event by brushing up on all that was discussed during the event and emphasized on the importance of Government to review the MDGs target in the next four years.
The Eight Goals No-Nonsense and the credibility in its quest for attainment, only time will tell!!!
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