The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has positioned itself as an increasingly influential platform capable of shaping national discourse and producing leaders who could occupy the highest political offices in Nigeria, its President, Malam Danlami Nmodu, said.
Nmodu stated this on Wednesday at the opening of GOCOP’s 10th Annual Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the guild had grown into a globally recognised professional body whose membership comprised competent and intellectually accomplished professionals with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
He said the quality of professionals within the organisation meant that GOCOP could, in the nearest future, produce a president of Nigeria.
“We have competent and cerebral professionals within this guild, and I believe that, in the nearest future, GOCOP can produce the President of Nigeria,” Nmodu said.
He urged members to recognise and develop their individual talents and expertise, particularly in their areas of specialisation, as a means of achieving professional fulfilment and economic sustainability.
Nmodu also thanked members for the support they had given his administration since he assumed office as president alongside other members of the executive committee.
Meanwhile, the guild has announced additional partners for the 10th annual conference, including the Lagos, Delta, Imo and Ekiti state governments, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Access Bank Plc and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Kemi Yesufu, said the first day of the conference would feature a presentation by Max Amuchie, Publisher of Sundiata Post, on “The Sundiata Post Model: Building the African Newsroom for the Long Term.”
She said Biodun Durojaiye, Publisher of The Lagos Times, would speak on “AI and Prompt Engineering for Online Publishing,” while Dr Monday Ashibogwu, Publisher of Quick News, would address “Monetisation of Digital Media Business.”
According to Yesufu, the second day of the conference, Thursday, October 8, would focus on the theme, “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, is expected to deliver the keynote address, while Dr Olisa Agbakoba, founding partner of Olisa Agbakoba Legal and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), will chair the session.
The panel will feature Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police, Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Prof. Tayo Popoola, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Adaora Onyechere Sydney Jack, Creative Director of Gender Agenda and Founder of WEWE Network Afrique; and Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre.
The new partners join previously announced supporters of the conference, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Nigeria Customs Service, Dangote Group, Seplat Energy, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Others are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Bank of Industry (BoI), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), TAJBank, Emadeb Energy, Setraco Nigeria Limited, Sovereign Trust Insurance and Nestlé Nigeria Plc.
GOCOP is a business membership organisation comprising 127 corporate online publishers in Nigeria. Its annual conference brings together media executives, policymakers, academics, business leaders, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to deliberate on issues of national importance.
