By: Ayomikun Oluwatimleyin Inawole
World Development Information Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 with the adoption of Resolution 3038 (XXVII). The Assembly decided that the date for the observance should coincide with United Nations Day (October 24) to emphasize the
importance of development in the UN’s overall mission.
The idea for the day originated from discussions on how to address the development challenges faced by many countries, particularly in the Global South. The goal was to improve public awareness of development issues and encourage international cooperation to bridge
the gap between developed and developing countries.
In the co-memorisation of the day, I interacted with the State Director National Orientation Agency Kwara Alhaji Dare Abdulganiyu who gave his submission on information challenges we face in Nigeria and how we address them.
“To me the challenges are numerous, sometime you will see that our people are misinformed and you will see people pass false information and people just distort news and information generally so there are a lot of challenges, in general, we all need to stay together to see how to
correct it to suit modern and societal wellbeing.”
“information is very necessary for us to live in society because if there would be happening we would still need to pass this across, as the government are in charge of formulating policies some people are in charge of executing it and all these need to be bridge together so we are not disconnected and in modern development, there is the advent of new ICTS development, new means of passing and spreading information, with this the positive aspect is applauding the other side.”
Alhaji Abdulganiyu also explained that the free and smooth passage and sharing of information between countries was the reason for the day. “That is the essence of why World Development Information Day is being celebrated this idea comes from the United nation it came after some challenges were noticed there should be connectivity between the developing and underdeveloping countries for the proper annexation and not to break that chain of development that is why the united nations have decided to have this day so that the developing countries to move higher and greater in the development stage.”
The Objectives of this day are to improve the dissemination of information amongst countries and the mobilization of public opinion, particularly among young people, to raise awareness of the problems of development and to promote efforts in the sphere of international
cooperation for development.
Ayomikun Oluwatimileyin Inawole is a 400 Level MassCommunication
Student, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. Nigeria