By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, on Friday, charged public relations practitioners to join hands with Governor Chukwuma Soludo in rebuilding Anambra’s damaged reputation by joining the government’s moral rebirth campaign.
Mefor stated during the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Anambra State Chapter’s visit that the Ministry of Information’s expanded mandate now includes value reformation, making collaboration with PR professionals essential.
He lamented that Anambra’s once-brilliant reputation as the ‘Light of the Nation’ has been wounded in the last decade due to the erosion of core Igbo values, including the criminalisation of Biafran agitation.
“The criminalisation of Biafra agitation has tarnished our reputation as a people.” He stated, “We can agitate legally and politically, but not in ways that harm our economy and portray Ndi Igbo negatively.”
Linking reputation to security and social values, he warned against harmful influences, particularly of fake pastors and native doctors who have acted as enablers of crime.
“Fake native doctors and some fake pastors are even more dangerous than criminals, because religion commands unquestioning loyalty. That is the enormity of the work before us,” he said.
The commissioner welcomed NIPR’s request for closer ties and announced that NIPR should be integrated into the Ministry of Information in the state, similar to its role at the federal level, while also offering the institute office space and approving training for information officers by the NIPR Anambra chapter. He also proposed a joint implementation committee.
“Ordinarily, we should be the ones requesting you to retrain our 185 information officers, who are posted across MDAs, LGAs, and specialised institutions.” They have a dual mandate: to report MDA activities and to serve as PROs. They clearly need PR training. We will address the matter immediately.
Earlier, the NIPR State Chairman, Dr Ngozi Ulogu, said the institute wanted a partnership with the ministry to counter rumours and promote the governor’s agenda.
“Through proper and strategic communication, we must ensure that the people of Anambra understand the value of being an onye Anambra. Our goal is to counter false stories and rumours with credible information,” she said.
The NIPR PRO, Mr Ogemdi Ozoemenam, added that all federal information officers are members of the NIPR by extension and sought the same for Anambra’s information officers.
Dr Chinedu Ekweonu, Secretary of the institute, noted that Anambra’s once-respected image has declined due to criminal activity, underscoring the importance of Governor Soludo’s reorientation agenda to restore the region’s dignity.
The highlight of the event is the formal presentation of the invitation to the NIPR 2026 Chapter Development Training and Workshop, scheduled for September 16, 2026, to the commissioner.
