By Yahaya Idris, Asaba
The Communication Manager, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Jackson Ekwugum, has commended the Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq., for sustaining the Delta State Strategic Communication Workshop for seven years.
Ekwugum gave the commendation during the closing ceremony of DELCOM 2026 in Asaba, where he urged participants to convert the knowledge gained from the training into measurable improvements in their professional duties.
He said the sustained organisation of the workshop demonstrated the Delta State Government’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of its workforce.
According to him, DELCOM has continued to grow and become “bigger and better” while providing government communicators with the knowledge required to respond to emerging challenges in public communication.
The seventh edition, which commenced on Tuesday, August 18, focused on “Digital Communication and Crisis Management: Building Trust and Credibility for Democratic Governance.”
Ekwugum said the theme was particularly relevant at a time when social media, artificial intelligence and citizen journalism were rapidly changing the communication landscape.
He urged participants to use the knowledge acquired to improve government communication, manage crises effectively and strengthen citizens’ confidence in public institutions.
He said communicators must understand that their responsibilities go beyond promoting government activities to include explaining policies, providing accurate information, responding to public concerns and correcting misinformation.
The workshop also focused on media relations, reputation management, digital engagement and emerging technologies.
Speakers emphasised the need for government institutions to have clear crisis communication procedures and authorised spokespersons who can provide verified information promptly.
Participants were further encouraged to strengthen collaboration among MDAs to avoid contradictory messages during emergencies and sensitive public issues.
Ekwugum also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for supporting human capital development and programmes designed to impact positively on the people of Delta State.
He urged participants to share the lessons acquired with colleagues and apply them in their respective organisations.
He said the real success of DELCOM would be determined by the extent to which participants use the knowledge gained to improve communication, crisis response and citizen engagement across the state.