THE MINISTER of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and the President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, were among the eminent personalities who commended the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) for the successful launch of its inaugural publication, Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspectives on Online Publishing.
The book was unveiled on Tuesday at a high-profile event in Abuja, which also served as a fundraising initiative for the proposed GOCOP Media Centre.
The occasion attracted a distinguished gathering of stakeholders from various sectors, including governance, politics, government institutions, security agencies, energy, transportation, industry, media, private enterprise, and reputation management.
Attendees praised GOCOP for its groundbreaking achievement, describing the book as a vital resource that sets a new benchmark for online publishing in Nigeria.
They encouraged the public to engage with the publication, noting that it offers insightful perspectives on the evolving media landscape.
The event was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, while the book review was delivered by Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of the NIPR.
Among the notable guests were Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy; Mr. Emma Agu, former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers; Mr. Haruna Suleman, Council Member of the NIPR; Mr. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity; and Assistant Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer.
Also in attendance were Mr. Tony Ogedengbe, representing Shell Nigeria; Hon. Abdullahi Bego, Yobe State Commissioner for Information, who represented Governor Mai Mala Buni; Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Group Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited; Mr. Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); and Alhaji Jibrin Ndace, Managing Director of the Voice of Nigeria (VON).
The event further featured representatives from key government agencies and private institutions, including Mr. Felix Obiamalu, General Counsel of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), representing the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari; Mr. Achileus Uchegbu, Spokesman for United Nigeria Airlines; Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Assistant Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; and Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, Head of Press Unit at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), representing the Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar.
The academic community was well-represented by a delegation that included Prof. Desmond Okocha, Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy; Prof. Mel Onobe, Dean of the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies at Bingham University, Karu; and Dr. Akorege of the same institution.
Other dignitaries present were Mr. Torofeek Folani, former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment; Air Commodore B.Y. Zakari, representing the Nigerian Air Force; Dr. Ahmad Sajoh, NIPR Council Member; Ms. Lilas Orlov, representing the Angolan Embassy; Mrs. Olubunmi Badejo, NIPR Governing Council Member; and media consultants Mr. Niran Adedokun and Mr. Akpandem James.
Additional attendees included Mr. Levi Anyikwa, former Director of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon; Mr. Bola Fashina, Chief of Staff to the Chairman/CEO of the National Quality Council; Dr. Kole Shettima, Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation; Alhaji Hakeem Bello, former Media Adviser to ex-Minister Babatunde Fashola; and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, led by Dr. Iyobosa Uwuigiaren, the Guild’s Secretary.
The occasion highlighted the growing influence of GOCOP in shaping Nigeria’s digital media space while fostering collaboration among media professionals, government officials, and industry leaders. The successful launch of “Nigeria Media Renaissance” marks a significant milestone in the advancement of credible and professional online journalism in the country.
