Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
*ABEOKUTA* – The South-West Deputy National President, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Comrade Peter Jones Ailuorio has submitted that, online media practice is the future of journalism in Nigeria.
Comrade Peter admitted that with the global trend in digitalization, online media practice would soon outrightly overtake the conventional media practice in the country.
The Deputy National President stated this in Abeokuta on Thursday during the official inauguration of Ogun State chapter of OMPAN held at NUJ Press Centre, Iwe-Iroyin house, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
He pointed out that, Online Media has advantage over the conventional media, as a result of its ability to break news as it happens without any delay.
He pointed out that, the association should not be seen as union, but a group of professionals subjected to the parent body NUJ, particularly in the state and urged all members to remain strictly professional in their activities devoid of personal interests and other political undertones.
He therefore, charged members across the country to always be objective in their daily report and be more investigative than their usual report.
“I want to congratulate the newly “elective-selected” executive members in Ogun State. This is a call for duty. Don’t politicise the association, but be objective in your reportage.
“We have a comparative advantage over the conventional media in the country because we break news as it happens. And I must submit here that, online media is the future of journalism not only in Nigeria, but in the world”, he averred.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, Comrade Wole Shokunbi assured the new executives of the Union’s support, urging members to remain competent, united and transparent and professional in their activities in line with the goals of the professional body, especially in the state.
In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn-in Chairman, Comrade Kayode Akin – Samuel promised to be proactive and transparent in running the affairs of the association.
He however, charged members to cooperate and work collectively as a team towards moving the association forward, especially in the state.
Other newly elected officers in the state are; Kayode Akin-Samuel of Falcon Times as Chairman, Michael Adesanya of City Voice as Vice Chairman.
Others are; Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji of Saharaweekly as Secretary, John Izabi of Newsflakes as PRO, Shola Ajibike (Gateway mail) as Treasurer, Adejola Crown of Tropic Reporters as Welfare officer, while Sunkanmi Akinlotan of Platform Times as and Gbenga Oladipupo (Awikonko) were selected as Assistant Secretary and Financial Secretary respectively.
Ogun NUJ chairman, Wole Shokunbi with the new executive members of OMPAN in Ogun State