By Kumba Leigh
The Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcast Services, through the Department of Information Services on Friday, November 1st concluded a 5-day training on Social Media Management for Government Communication Officers. The training aimed to strengthen government communication by enhancing the capacities of Communication Officers on modern forms of communication. The training focused on social media strategic planning, branding, crisis communication and graphic designing among others. Speaking at the opening of the 5-day training, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, underscored the significance of equipping communication officers. He said the training was an important step in their drive towards moulding a pool of highly competent communication officers capable of driving the open governance agenda. He said digital technological advancement and emerging media trends pose two challenges for information, and communication officers: “acquiring the interpersonal skills that prepare them effectively to executive their jobs and take up a meaningful and fulfilling career path; and acquiring the requisite communication skills and technologies that will enable them communicate effectively to create well-informed communities, and as well as promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence”.
The Minister posited that this development has brought digital communication to the forefront of communication and information landscape, with social media as the inevitable vehicle for modern communication for all entities, including government. “In light of the forefront, we in the information and communication sector must be responsive to the needs of an ever-changing environment in communication arena; and the emergence of social media have profoundly changed the manner and speed in which information is disseminated, with far-reaching consequences. “As communication officers you are required to adjust to this trend so that you can do your job more effectively,” he asserted.
He therefore expressed his ministry’s commitment, through the Department of Information Services, to ensuring that all communication officers have the required skills and equipment to carry out their responsibility. “We will continue to do this by expanding opportunities for communications skills acquisition through collaboration with our international and bilateral partners, nongovernmental and civil society organisations, and educational institutions in order to reduce the deficit in communications skills education,” he reaffirmed. He pointed out to the communication officers that they play a significant role in the promotion of the government’s development agenda by transmitting information about the government’s activities to the citizenry through various channels of communication. “This contributes to public understanding of government policies, programmes and projects and raises awareness on noteworthy trends and achievements”.
Minister Ceesay thanked The Gambia Government for the creation of the positions of communication officers in all ministries in a bid to inform the citizenry about the government’s actions. This, he said, is a testimony to the democratic tendencies of this government. He thanked the Department of Information Services for organising the training programme on behalf of the Ministry and Fatiman and Co. Public Relations and Marketing Company for conducting training.
For her part, Isatou Davies Ann, Director of Department of Information Services, said the training took into consideration the rapidly evolving digital landscape, and the crucial roles of communications professionals in order to build strong understanding of issues relating to social media management. Madiba Sillah, Principal Information Officer, Department of Information Services, noted the importance of having social media management skills amidst technological advancement, and the advent of the era of digital technology. He explained that the idea of the training came about after an internal evaluation of the competence gap in professional social media management on the part of the Communication Officers. He expressed hope that at the end of the training there will be significant skills improvement, and ultimately a strengthened Government communication.
