The Kano State Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has charged Information Officers in the state to respond to misinformation and disinformation with accurate, timely and credible information backed by reliable data.
Waiya gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Professional Capacity-Building Workshop organised by the Association of Local Government Information Officers in Nigeria (ALGION).
Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, the director of public relations and englightment, Kano state ministry of information disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists in Kano on Thursday.
According to the statement, Waiya said rapidly changing information environment had made the role of Information Officers more critical, urging them to strengthen their professional capacity and adopt modern communication strategies to effectively manage information and counter the spread of false and unverified claims.
According to him, the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation and unverified information across social media and other communication platforms requires professionally trained Information Officers capable of providing the public with accurate, timely and credible information.
Waiya said the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had continued to prioritise the training and retraining of Information Officers to strengthen their professional capacity and improve effective information management and public communication across the state.
He announced that Information Officers serving across Ministries, Departments and Agencies would soon proceed to Kaduna for an intensive training workshop on modern communication strategies.
He said the programme would equip them with contemporary skills, knowledge and tools required to improve their performance and effectively communicate government policies, programmes and achievements to citizens.
“Continuous capacity building is an essential investment in institutional development. Competent and well-equipped Information Officers are indispensable to effective public communication and the promotion of public trust,” Waiya said.
He urged the officers to use the knowledge acquired from the workshop to strengthen communication between government and citizens, particularly by ensuring that government policies, programmes and developmental achievements were properly and accurately communicated.
The Commissioner commended Information Officers from Kano, Borno, Jigawa, Delta and other parts of the country who participated in the three-day workshop, describing their participation as a demonstration of commitment to professional development and effective public service.
He also commended the ALGION leadership for organising the workshop, saying it provided an important platform for Information Officers to exchange ideas, share experiences and strengthen professional networks.
In his remarks, ALGION National President, Comrade Jibril Basilla, said the workshop was designed to equip members with contemporary tools and skills in digital communication, crisis management, data-driven reporting and strategic public enlightenment.
Basilla appreciated the Kano State Government for its continued support for members of the Association, particularly in professional capacity building and the welfare and development of Information Officers.
The workshop featured lectures, presentations and interactive sessions on contemporary issues in public communication, information management and professional practice, with certificates presented to participants at the conclusion.
Meanwhile, Waiya was honoured by Information Officers from Borno State during the programme in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the development of Information Officers.
Participants expressed appreciation to the organisers and facilitators for providing them with an opportunity to broaden their professional knowledge, exchange experiences and build networks that would enhance their effectiveness in public communication.