Media aides to the Cross River State Governor, Press Secretaries to council chairmen, journalists, and discursive change agents have been urged to strengthen their professional capacity in action planning, networking, and public communication as tools for effective governance and public trust building.
The charge was made at a two-day Master Class Training Programme organised by the Agba Jalingo Foundation for Investigative and Accountability Journalism (AJFIAJ) on AI, Data Analytics, and Law in Communication, held at the Conference Hall of the Cross River State Library Complex, Calabar.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, commended Agba Jalingo and his foundation for the initiative, describing it as “timely and strategic.”
Odey urged journalists and media aides to project the state positively through accurate and balanced reportage to attract investors.
“The media plays a critical role in shaping perception.
When you tell our story positively, you help investors see the opportunities that abound in Cross River State,” he said.
Founder of AJFIAJ, Comrade Agba Jalingo, said the training was conceived to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance through a more informed and responsible media ecosystem.
“Our goal is to build a Cross River where transparency, fairness, and accountability are the norm rather than the exception,” he said.
“We want to empower journalists and media aides with the tools, data, and ethical strength to hold power accountable and tell the people’s stories responsibly.”
Delivering one of the lead sessions, Alhaji Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, a senior journalist and public relations expert, emphasised the need for practical communication and leadership skills tailored to the evolving media and governance landscape.
According to him, action planning, networking, and communication are interdependent pillars of success for media professionals.
“Action planning provides direction, networking builds relationships and access, while communication ensures clarity, credibility, and visibility,” he said.
Zubair described action planning as the process of translating strategy into measurable steps, stressing the importance of setting SMART objectives.
“Without structured planning, visions remain abstract. Action planning keeps teams focused, accountable, and result-driven,” he added.
On networking, he said it was “the art of building and maintaining relationships that create mutual value,” noting that professional, social, digital, and policy networking expand opportunities and influence.
“Effective networking is not about asking for help; it’s about giving value, building trust, and sustaining relationships that matter,” he advised.
On communication, Olanrewaju urged government media managers to maintain clear, consistent, and transparent messaging to strengthen public trust.
“We are not merely conveyors of messages; we are narrative shapers, perception builders, and trust managers.
The power of communication is the power to control and transform narratives,” he said.
Participants were also exposed to the Mamba Mentality Philosophy, which encourages focus, value-driven work, and results-oriented execution.
Olanrewaju further charged the participants to uphold professionalism, accuracy, and integrity in their duties, describing them as “the conscience of leadership.”
“When we communicate government activities rightly, governance gains credibility.
When narratives are accurate, citizens benefit from the dividends of the ‘People First’ agenda,” he said.
Other resource persons at the two day training include Dr. Monday Ashibogwu, Mr. Cornelius Ellah, First Baba Isa, and Busola Ajibola, who spoke on AI tools and data analytics, Media and information literacy, Media Integrity, Reality and the law as well as fact checking and investigative Journalism.
The training, which was part of AJFIAJ’s broader capacity-building drive, highlighted the importance of strategic communication, collaboration, and accountability journalism in deepening good governance across Cross River State.
