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GOCOP annual conference holds October 6 in Lagos; to discuss 2023 elections
The 2022 conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) will hold in Lagos on Thursday, October 6 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
The theme for the conference is “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome” and it will feature prominent stakeholders in the polity, civil society organisations, security, judiciary, media, among others.
This year’s conference which will be holding barely five months to the 2023 general elections and one week into the official commencement of campaigns by political parties will provide a roadmap for political actors and the various publics on the need to play by the rules and conform to acceptable electoral behaviour, a statement by Mr. Olumide Iyanda, Secretary of the Conference Planning Committee said.
This year’s conference which will be heralded by a business luncheon with GOCOP Partners on Wednesday, October 5, at the same venue, is the 6th in the series.
Speakers at previous Conferences include: Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto who delivered the 2019 lecture on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward”. In 2021, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation keynoted the Conference in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. He spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”
Quoting the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, the statement said “the choice of this year’s theme was informed by contemporary political, economic, security and socio-cultural challenges facing Nigeria ahead of a very critical general election.”
The conference will bring together many policy and decision makers from the private and public sectors as well as scholars, non-governmental organizations and the media, the statement said.
According to the statement: “The Guild was established to ensure that online publishers uphold the tenets of journalism in doing their jobs and our membership is a constellation of Editors and senior journalists who, having distinguished themselves in their various stations, ventured into online publishing which is both the present and future of journalism globally.”
The statement said the Guild was mindful of the current state of the nation, especially in an election year, hence it chose to focus on the forthcoming elections.
“The conference is therefore a fitting platform for the distillation and sharing of ideas from a carefully chosen array of resource persons cutting across the entire socio-political ecosystem. GOCOP intends to use the opportunity of the conference to moderate the already tense political climate as well as to proffer solutions to current and anticipated challenges arising from the elections,” the statement said.
News
Former Miss Nigeria dies in London
Ex-Miss Nigeria and former First Lady of Delta State, Mrs Edna Ibru (nee Park) is dead.
Edna Ibru, wife of Olorogun Felix Ibru, the first civilian Governor of Delta State between 1991 and 1992, died in her 80s on Wednesday, in a London hospital after a brief illness.
The deceased, who was Miss Nigeria 1964, and the first Nigerian/African to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe, had two children for Ibru.
The Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom in Delta State confirmed the death of the former first lady in a statement issued by her son, Dr Paul Ibru, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday.
“Our amazing mother passed onto glory on Wednesday 15, January 2025 after a brief illness”, the statement partly read.
It continued, “Until her death, she was full of life and we never expected her to leave us so soon but we cannot question the will of God in her precious life.
“She was a lover of people, a mediator, a mother to many, outrageously humorous, deeply caring, down to earth, full of stories all of the time, and we will miss her very dearly.”
Paul added that arrangements for her burial would be announced by the family later.
News
Tinubu administration has no plan, no vision – Bauchi Governor
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that while he initially celebrated Tinubu’s victory, he has since observed a lack of clear vision and effective policies that are hindering national progress.
Mohammed, who was an opposition governor during the 2023 elections, admitted to having high hopes for the new administration due to Tinubu’s successful tenure as Lagos State Governor.
However, he now believes that freedom and development remain elusive under the current leadership.
Speaking at a courtesy visit by Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, in Bauchi, Mohammed emphasized that President Tinubu appears to have entered office without a concrete plan or manifesto.
He also criticized the president for surrounding himself with individuals who he described as “misfits,” and warned that the administration’s direction is likely to lead Nigeria down a path of destruction.
The Governor clarified that he holds no personal animosity toward Tinubu, but expressed concern over the impact of the current policies, particularly those that he believes could negatively affect Nigerians.
He urged the president to be more inclusive and develop a comprehensive, well-thought-out vision for the country.
Mohammed called for reforms that would be beneficial to all citizens, stressing the need for unity and respect for Nigeria’s diversity.
He cautioned against divisive policies and practices of impunity, urging for governance that prioritizes the welfare of the people and ensures their aspirations are not stifled.
News
Yahoo Boys shoot EFCC officer dead, injure another in Anambra
Armed internet fraudsters fatally shot an officer after opening fire on a team of anti-graft operatives in Anambra on Friday.
The officers were on a mission to corner a cluster of suspected cybercriminals, widely known as Yahoo Boys, when they were met with lethal violence on Friday morning.
One officer was shot dead on the spot and another sustained serious injuries and remained hospitalised in critical condition as of Friday night.
The officers had travelled to Anambra on the assignment from their zonal headquarters in Enugu.
A male suspect has been taken into custody for the murder, an official said. His identity was not immediately disclosed just as the motive of the attack is yet to be ascertained.
A spokesman for the EFCC said he would find out about the incident when contacted.
A police spokesman in Anambra did not immediately comment on the development.
The attack came as chairman Ola Olukoyede was recalibrating the agency’s protocol on raiding white-collar criminals. Yahoo Boys were hitherto largely known to be unarmed and, therefore, easily to take into custody.
The deceased officer was identified as an assistant superintendent who had recently completed a promotional examination.
It was learnt that the identity of the officer was kept secret to allow time for his family to be officially notified.
Anti-graft agents expressed apprehension over the development saying the agency’s personnel insurance had been moribund for years.
“We no longer have life insurance,” an officer said under anonymity to discuss internal administrative policies.
“The last time family members of an officer who died on duty were compensated was under Farida Waziri.”
“So the families of the officer that died today won’t be getting anything,” another officer added. “So can we say he died for nothing?”
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