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MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, CULTURE, SPORTS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | |
Exco Members Ministries
| The Ministry of Information, Culture, Sports and Social Development as it is known today is the creation of the present Administration borne out of the genuine desire to inject life and buoyancy into that arm of government activities especially towards achieving efficiency effectiveness and productivity. The Ministry which, until June 2003, was existing as three separate full‑fledged Ministries is having its resources in its conglomerate status more efficiently mobilized, harnessed and channeled to meet the challenges of the portfolio. The present arrangement can be said to be sufficiently formidable to tackle the issues of the office, meet targets and contribute very meaningfully to the achievement of the common goal.
FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTRY Generally, the Ministry is the arm of government saddled with the responsibility for image‑making which centres on the creation of a good and humane rapport between the government and the governed. It is achieved through the adequate dissemination of information on government activities and the creation of the conducive avenues for effective feed back. Apart from being the publicity outfit for government, the Ministry's activities also include the following: * Provision of appropriate intervention (tangible or intangible) in cases where human actions encounter difficulties which might inhibit normal social functioning (adult, children and the less privileged) (Please see the write‑up on the Social Welfare Department in Annexure 'A') * Cultural preservation, promotion, propagation and education. Writing and staging theatrical performances that vividly mirror the experiences that illustrate the progressive march of civilization besides providing healthy entertainment. (Please see write‑up on Arts and Culture Department in Annexure 'B'). * Responsibility for formulating sports policy through the Sports Development Department which, in pursuance of the objective of facilitating good working relationship and intergovernmental relationship between the Ministry, Federal counterpart and other sports bodies serves as a link between the Ministry and the Sports Council (Write‑up on Sports Development Department is in Annexure Q. * Assisting Government in the formulation of policy on Finance and personnel matter. Budgeting, sourcing for fund, procurement of materials, maintenance of office, capital assets, furniture and equipment form an integral part of this duty. Discipline, training and the general welfare of staff fall within the purview in addition to the coordination of other departments' activities and liaison with other relevant bodies.
Planning, research and statistics duties are executed to generate database and monitor performance in relation to targets and objectives of the Ministry. CULTURAL DEPARTMENT The functions of the Arts and Culture Department. of the Ministry of Information, Sports, Culture and Social Welfare come under broad headings of cultural preservation, cultural promotion, Cultural Propagation and Education.
The scope of Cultural Preservation covers the following: (i) Collection of monumental art objects for preservation and exhibition. (ii) Documentation of traditional oral genres‑folktales, songs, and the various forms of traditional poetry. (iii) Documentation of traditional Festivals and research into their sociological and authropological essence (iv) Documentaries on traditional industries and vocations like cloth weaving and dyeing mat weaving, poetry, smithing, and hunting (v) A study of relay of skills in concrete art works in the areas of carving, painting, cloth decoration and ornamentation, to ensure progressive transmission to succeeding civilization. (vi) Regular exhibition of traditional and contemporary art works with a view to encouraging indigenous artists. (vii) Workshops and Seminars on visual arts.
Cultural Propagation is concerned basically with disseminating concepts, norms and more customs; and other non‑concrete aspects of our culture. The approach includes the following activities:
(i) Writing and staging of plays that thoroughly explore our folklore, history and legends with a view to informing the public. (ii) Staging of plays based on contemporary sociological themes and concepts with a view to propagating desirable social ideals and goals. (iii) Presenting, in theatrical forms, shows that truly crystallize the people's culture in all its ramifications, and mirror vividly the experiences that illustrate the progressive march of civilization, besides providing healthy entertainments. (iv) Workshops and Seminars on performing Arts‑Drama, Music, Dance and general Arts of the theatre and aesthetics. (v) Technical assistance to schools and colleges in performing literary arts.
The Department of Social Welfare is primarily charged with the responsibility of providing appropriate intervention (tangible or intangible) in cases where human actions encounter difficulties which might inhibit normal social functioning. The Department performs a number of functions in order to achieve this broad goal.
DIVISIONS: Presently, the Department operates on 3 broad divisions. They are: (i) Social Welfare Division (ii) Rehabilitation Division (iii) Child Development Division
INSTITUTIONS:‑ At present, the department operates 2 Institutions, viz (i) Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, Ado‑Ekiti. The Centre is designed to provide regular training programmes for trainable PWDs, but as at now, it accommodates forty five inmates; only fifteen are on vocational training, while the remaining are untrainable who are provided with shelter and care. (ii) The Government Children's Home at lyin Ekiti operates for the care and protection of children in especially difficult circumstances, particularly orphans. (iii) JUVENILE REMAND HOME:‑ This is not in operation yet. However, Lands had been allocated (4 acres) along lyin Road in Ado-Ekiti. Construction work is expected to begin this year. (iv) DESTITUTE CAMP:‑ This is also in the pipeline. The Ministry of Lands had approved, in principle, a site at Ilokun, Iworoko Road. FUNCTIONS/SERVICES (i) Family Welfare Services (ii) Juvenile Welfare Services (iii) Child Development Services (iv) Adult Welfare Services (v) Care and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (vi) Care of the Aged (vii) Care of Citizens in Distress (viii) School and Medical Social Works (ix) Social Development, Research and Planning (x) Registration of Places of worship for celebration of Marriage (xi) Registration of NGOs and C.B.Os
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Sports as a social institution occupies a place of significant attention among the cultures of the people of Ekiti State. This undoubtedly, is reflected on the participatory craze, avid interest and fanatism demonstrated by the people of the State. Sports is a unifying instrument of people and Government's policies. On that score, Government has accorded it a good measure of recognition, commitment and participation.
In a bid to formulate this sports policy, the Sports Development Department was created within the Ministry in Year 2004 and has the responsibility of serving as a link between the Ministry and the Sports Council and is also charged with the responsibility of facilitating good working relationships and Inter‑governmental relationships between the Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development and other Sports bodies.
As part of the bid to formulate sports policy, 'A bill for a law to establish a Sports Council to encourage and improve participation and assist amateurs and professionals participating in all forms of Sports' was enacted by the House of Assembly, Ekiti State and stated as thus; "There shall be established for the purposes of this law a Body to be known as the Ekiti State Sports Council. The Council shall be a parastatal under the supervision of Ministry of Sports and Social Development.
The following are the aims and objectives of Sports in Ekiti State.
(a) For mass participation (b) Train high level Sports men and women for State, National and International competitive endeavours; (c) Recognition by the public of the unique contribution of Sports towards the image of the State. (d) For the recognition by members of the profession that, the services they render are more important than the economic gain they derive. (e) To increase the prospects of Sports men and women who want to make Sports a life career. (f) To use Sports as an instrument for mass mobilization and self‑reliance for State development. (g) To develop and maintain physical, mental, social well being as well as the acquisition of skills. (h) To develop the habit of recreational activities as a mass of maintaining good health. (i) To develop good social behavioural skills needed for good person‑to-person relations and individual adjustment. (j) To develop a positive outlook towards win or lose situation in Sports. (k) To foster unity, cooperation and understanding among the various groups and organizations within the State. (l) To educate public on the importance of Sports in the Society. (m) To ensure good sports programme that will enhance excellent sports performance (n) To ensure the involvement of all institutions in the participation and development of Sports in the State. (o) To ensure effective co‑ordination of Sports at the grass‑root level through the various Social Development Authorities of the State.
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Directorate of Information Technology, Ekiti State, Nigeria | |
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT