-GOCOP President Charges New Members On Ridding The Media Space Of Fake News
News Highlights:
- Former Nigerian ambassador to Spain, Yusuf Mamman, urged the country to embrace global financial inclusion.
- He challenged the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to lead in raising awareness to help Nigeria achieve this integration.
Yusuf Mamman, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain, has charged the country to key into global financial inclusion even as he challenged the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to lead in the awareness that may help Nigeria achieve this.
Mamman spoke as the chairman of the 2024 Annual General Conference of GOCOP which held at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
The 8th annual conference with the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy” had as the keynote speaker, His Excellency Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, while Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State was the chief host.
Mamman in his opening remarks, said Nigeria cards rarely get recognized abroad, regretting that this has led to many hardships, adding that the global financial system has gone cashless and Nigeria must be integrated, as anything to the contrary, could lead to what he called cyber balkanization.
He admitted that Nigerian youths spend huge sums on data, but wondered if this huge spending ever goes to seeking knowledge. “There is knowledge out there in the internet where people can learn most things to improve themselves, but we must be sure that is where the huge data being poured into the internet by Nigerian youths is going to.
“There is what I regard as the biggest university in the world; ‘University of Youtube’. This has caused huge transition in every aspect of life” He noted that many technologies including the Post and Telecommunication (P&T) system and photography have since transited to new techs.”
The former ambassador noted that technology has caused quantum leap which he said has also brought threats in the form of misinformation but expressed worry about how Nigeria can safeguard morality and reduce sensationalism.
To GOCOP, the former Ambassador pointed to availability of multiple platforms, urging GOCOP to find a way to embrace them to be relevant in the industry. “GOCOP must find how to transit from online journalism to a kind of media convergence system where Youtube is king.”
He commended the GOCOP members for sustaining the journey for eight years now, and recalled the early days of GOCOP, noting that the new media is opening new frontiers and this is opening new opportunities and challenges, adding that technology is an evolutionary process but as deep and wide as an ocean.
In her welcome remarks, the GOCOP President who commended the host government, past presidents of the Guild, said the fight against fake news has persuaded GOCOP to enthrone strict membership screening as well as the ombudsman system, adding that GOCOP has also joined national media industry ombudsman system to escalate cases that may be beyond the GOCOP.
Some GOCOP partners delivered goodwill messages including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), represented by the Corporate Communications Division through Teleola Oyeleke, who commended GOCOP for sustaining the Guild, saying it was evidence of seriousness of the members.
“We regard you as one of NCDMB’s critical stakeholders. That is why the board has been partnering this organization. We are glad to partner you people both as a group and as individual publishers,” he said, calling on GOCOP to continue to support local content development, saying Nigeria is leading the drive in Africa.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was represented by Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Relations, who said the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, held GOCOP in high esteem.
He said the digital space and role of online publishing were critical and now a reality. “You are important, not just for popularizing the NCC but for opening the democratic space. We are improving investment and productivity of the nation. That is why constructive ideas are always welcome to the NCC.”