Nigeria needs to commit to global financial inclusion and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) needs to lead the way in recognizing that it can help Nigeria achieve this.
Participants at the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) conference held in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The charges were handed down to GOCOP by former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mr. Yusuf Mamman, who was the Chairman of GOCOP’s 2024 Annual General Meeting held from October 2nd to 3rd at the Riverton Hotel in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. .
This comes as GOCOP President Maureen Sigbo tasked new members to join the task of eliminating fake news from the online media space.
The theme of the 8th annual conference is “Nigeria: Tackling insecurity, power shortages and transitioning to a digital economy.” The keynote speaker was former Cross River State Governor, Liel Imoke, while Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State served as the chief moderator.
In his opening remarks, the former ambassador said that Nigerian cards are rarely recognized abroad and regretted that this had led to many difficulties.
Mamman said the global financial system was becoming increasingly cashless and Nigeria needed to integrate, adding that failure to integrate could lead to what he called cyber isolation.
He acknowledged that Nigerian youths spend huge amounts of money on data, but wondered if this huge expenditure was ever spent on the quest for knowledge. “There is knowledge on the internet that people can learn almost anything to improve themselves, but we need to be sure that the huge amount of data that is being poured into the internet by Nigerian youths is going there. There is.
“There is a university that I consider to be the largest in the world. ‘YouTube University.’ This has led to major changes in all aspects of life. ”
He pointed out that many technologies, such as postal and telecommunications (P&T) systems and photography, have since migrated to newer technologies.
The former ambassador noted that IT has brought about a quantum leap and said it also poses threats in the form of misinformation. His concern, therefore, is how Nigeria can uphold morality and reduce sensationalism.
To GOCOP, the former ambassador pointed out the possibility of using multiple platforms. He urged GOCOP to find ways to accommodate them to remain relevant in the industry. He said GOCOP must find a way to move from online journalism to a kind of media convergence system where Youtube is king.
He called on Nigerians not to wish their online space to disappear, saying: “If you don’t want to get wet, don’t go in the water.”
He said the world of digital media is now about “likes, comments, and shares.”
He commended GOCOP members for continuing this journey over eight years and recalled the early days of GOCOP. He said new media are breaking new ground and opening up new opportunities and challenges. He said that IT is an evolutionary process, but it is as deep and wide as the ocean.
In his welcome address, the GOCOP president praised the host government and past presidents of the guild, saying the fight against fake news had convinced GOCOP to introduce strict membership vetting and an ombudsman system. GOCOP also participates in the national media industry ombudsman system to escalate cases that may go beyond GOCOP, she added.
Some GOCOP partners delivered messages of goodwill. The Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), represented by its Corporate Communications Department through Mr. Tereora Oyereke, commended GOCOP for maintaining the guild, saying it was proof of the seriousness of its members. .
He said: “We see you as one of NCDMB’s key stakeholders, which is why the Board of Directors is partnering with this organization. We are pleased to partner with you both as a group and as individual publishers. I think so.”
He said Nigeria was leading the effort in Africa and called on GOCOP to continue supporting local content development.
Represented by the Head of Media Relations, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, expressed high praise for GOCOP. Ta.
He said the role of the digital space and online publishing is extremely important and is now a reality. “You are important not only to popularize the NCC, but also to open up democratic spaces. We are increasing national investment and productivity. That is why constructive ideas are always welcome to the NCC. You will be welcomed.”
