Chinedum Treasure
Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation has disclosed its plans to intensify enlightenment and sensitization campaign on value reformation among citizens and residents of the state.
Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor dropped the hint at the formal opening of a three-room Value Reformation Project Office at the Ministry in Awka, the state capital.
He described the massive sensitization which would be carried out in partnership with Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders as a demonstration of faith and commitment to the value reformation mandate by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
He said the enlightenment was necessary to ensure people of the state were adequately conscientized ahead of the enforcement which he said would only commence when the law was ready, passed and assented to by the Governor.
Mefor recalled a recent stakeholders engagement to explore ways of activating the information and reformation mandate of the Ministry, saying the meeting led to birthing of a working manual currently before the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) for inputs.
“As you’re aware, the Ministry is no longer just Ministry of Information. The Governor deliberately and intentionally added Value Reformation to it, making it a dual mandate.
“During our first meeting, we agreed to follow a tripartite approach: legislation, moral persuasion and enforcement. While legislation and enforcement aspects are being handled by the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, the ministry will take care of moral persuasion and must start immediately.
“Under the persuasion approach, we’re going to set up structures at the state, local government, ward, community and institutional levels.
“We’ll also expand the existing programme in the state owned broadcasting station, ABS, named Malụmebe to a multi-station syndicated radio programme.
“The programme to be aired in at least five stations is expected to dominate the airwaves and conscientise Ndi Anambra within three to six months with sponsorship open to individuals and organisations with clean, patriotic and developmental agendas.
Emphasizing the importance of arming the citizenry with adequate knowledge ahead of enforcement of the reformation law, Mefor said, “I hear people often say ignorance of the law is not an excuse. I don’t believe in that personally.
“Whoever is not aware of the law is not aware of it, and it is somebody’s responsibility to make people aware. It’s our responsibility to inform Ndi Anambra about not only the value reformation law but about all laws. We should not lay ambush with a law against our people.
“You see law enforcement agents hiding somewhere for you to make a mistake, then they come out. Something is fundamentally wrong with that approach. Their job is to ensure law and order.
“Primarily, law enforcement agencies are not revenue-generating agencies, but in our experience, we treat them as such. If they are seen as agencies to ensure law and order, their approach will be different — to correct, to educate. Arrest should be the last option.
“First, there must be education. We need to teach our people why we need to chart a new course. Then when the law and enforcement component kick in, it will be carrot and stick — giving them the opportunity to choose. That is the approach we have to adopt.
“That is why we talk about moral suasion, which appeals to conscience. We are not animals. Given a normal atmosphere, people will prefer a better life and better conduct.
“That is the opportunity the Ministry is determined to offer our people, and that is why we seek your help. That is why we talk about a coalition of the willing, based on volunteerism. If you begin with volunteers, you begin with those who genuinely want to help.
“Volunteerism does not mean that at some point the Governor and government will not come in. They certainly will, and by then, funding will come. But before he funds anything, he has to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that he is not wasting resources. And that is what we are doing.
“We are going to prove, not just to the Governor and government, but to Ndi Anambra, that this is a new dawn and these are the people championing the cause. And we are leaving the door open for other volunteers to join.
“We need a lot of people because we are going to set up five structures. The first layer is the state structure. The next is the local government structure, then the ward structure, after that the community structure — because there are communities with more than one, two, three wards — and then institutional structures. That is the final layer.
“For me, if possible, we will start with primary schools. Because if we win these little ones, they will help us carry the campaign among adults, beginning with their own parents. When your child asks you, ‘Mummy, Daddy, why did you throw that pure water sachet outside?’ If it touches you, it will affect you.
“We are not under any illusion that what has gone wrong in Anambra for decades will disappear in the next three and a half years that remain of Governor Soludo’s administration. But we can lay a foundation that subsequent governments will continue.
“And who says this campaign must be championed by government alone? Even if subsequent administrations do not give it the premium it deserves, those of us that understand it can continue.”
President, Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, Comrade Monday Elimigbe expressed the group’s readiness to sponsor the value reformation agenda to the fullest.
He described the association as non-partisan, humanitarian and pan-Nigerian body with over 3 million nationwide and over 5,000 registered members in Anambra.
“We are partnering with the Presidency on ethics and values for drivers; while in Anambra, we are collaborating with Ministries of Information, Transport, Women Affairs as well as Commerce and Industry.
“When we heard that His Excellency attached Value Reformation to the Ministry of Information, we felt that Governor Soludo had taken a right decision.
“With our partnership with these four Ministries, this shows we are a broad-based association who are determined to meet our target,” he added.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo appreciated partners and other stakeholders for their commitment and support towards coordinating the policy direction and other activities, calling for its sustainability to enable the ministry achieve its desired goals.
“The is the time for action because we need to change the narrative. We hope that immediately after this event, we will hit the ground running,” she added.
Dignitaries at the event included Director of Operations, Drivers Welfare Club of Nigeria, Elvis Oliver Okolie, President General, Abatete, Nwadike Chimame and Prof Samuel Onwuka of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, among others.
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