INTRODUCTION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIT

The Press and Public Relations Unit is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of formulating, implementing and monitoring strategic public communication programmes for the effective and efficient information and enlightenment of Nigerians on the Sports Sector mandate. The Unit is also mandated to provide support media initiatives in furtherance of the overall mandate of this Ministry for the inclusive governance of Nigerians with specific reference to the Sports Sector.

The Unit in discharging these functions, undertakes several activities and programmes which are intended to create and sustain goodwill between the Ministry and its relevant publics using cutting edge new media technologies in the social and traditional media.

STRUCTURE

The Unit is manned by Information Officers from Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and they are resident in the Ministry and we are referred to as Resident Information Officers.

ORGANOGRAM OF PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

The Functions of the Unit

(a) Periodic rendition of news reports on the programmes and projects of this Ministry for inclusion in the National Website for public information and inclusive governance. These are sent in form of Press Releases to Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and also to various print and electronic media houses through e-press releases. The Press Releases are accompanied by relevant action photographs and videos.

(b) Strategic projection of all activities and programmes of the Federal Government being implemented through this Ministry using the traditional and new media.

(c) Daily review of the National Dailies and magazines for media reports about the activities of the Ministry, specifically the programmes of the Honourable Minister and Permanent Secretary which were covered by the Unit. This enables the Unit to review the effectiveness of her communication strategy and subsequently send feedback to management for possible adjustments in corporate policies of government.

(d) Oversees the information gathering and dissemination strategies of the Ministry in a manner that is consistent with the realization of a positive image and provides the ICT Unit of the Planning, Research and Statistics Department with the communication materials for placement on the Ministry’s Website. The Press and Public Relations Unit on the other hand, keeps the WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc updated always with trending programmes of the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary.

(e) Creates strategies for handling Press Enquiries and Editors’/ Publishers’ requests in a proactive way such that press interviews generate the achievement of a positive image for the Ministry and overall inclusive governance for Nigerians.

(f) Develops concise key messages for placement in the public domain as advertorials and advertisements on behalf of the Ministry.

(g) Organizes Press Briefings/Conferences for the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary as part of the public relations strategies for major programmes of the Ministry.

(h) Develops and implements public education and enlightenment projects for special events for the traditional and new media.

(i) Publishes magazines and other public information materials for the promotion of the achievements, programmes and activities of the Ministry.

(j) On a daily basis, press reports especially in the print media are monitored and compiled for the top Management Staff through the daily press review

(k) The Unit forwards Press Releases for use in the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation’s website. The Unit also sends photographs, videos and other graphic documentation to the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics for annual and other periodic reports and numerous publications of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

(l) Carried out periodic Media Audit to enable the strategic adjustment of the media strategies of the Unit.