Tola Adeniyi challenges GOCOP to help Nigerians rediscover their voices

• As Akinfeleye tasks GOCOP to help arrest menace of fake news

Chief Tola Adeniyi, former Managing Director of Daily Times has challenged online publishers in Nigeria to help Nigerians to rediscover their voice in view of the ineffectiveness of labour unions among others who used to champion the cause of the masses.

In his remarks at the 2nd Guild of Corporate Online Publishers’ (GOCOP) annual conference in Lagos on Friday, the accomplished journalist and great columnist said GOCOP has come of age and it should do more because Nigeria has lost its voice.

He acknowledged that the online publishers were enjoying a rise in importance and relevance, and they are now in the right position to help educate the people on the way forward.

According to him, the online publishers now have more reach than all the 114 newspapers in Nigeria put together, and they should naturally take up the role of the teachers.

Unlike the good old days of the traditional media when Sunday Times was selling 1.1 million copies a day, he said no newspaper now sells 40,000 copies in the country, while the online media are read all over the world.

He said it is a good thing that GOCOP is coming during the time of the social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram among others, and therefore challenged members to train themselves and even engage in regular editorial writing.

He made reference to a lecture ‘Politics of Language’ which he gave in Canada in 2011 as it exposed the ignorance and danger of lack of knowledge even in societies that were expected to be enlightened.

For instance he said nations with population of over 50 million people in Nigeria are erroneously called tribes like the Yoruba and Ibo.

In fact, he said there is no tribe in Nigeria.

“It’s important to have education. We can’t free ourselves if we don’t have knowledge.”

Specifically, he said journalists must acquire more knowledge than the people they write for

Prof Ralph Akinfeleye in his part called on members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers GOCOP, to help stop the spread of fake news in the country.

The revered university don made the passionate appeal while reviewing the theme of the conference: Online Publishers Role towards a Sustainable Economy, Credible Election and Security in Nigeria.

“As we approach 2019 general elections, I want to appeal that you help us stop and checkmate the spread of fake news. You are responsible journalists and not citizen journalists who practice journalese. As Online Publishers you must constantly campaign against fake news. Always separate yourselves from bloggers, because you are trained journalists. The society looks up to you for direction and accurate news at all times.”

Akinfeleye who also thanked the keynote speaker, Prof Chidi Odinkalu for delivering what he described as a thought provoking lecture, further advised online journalists to get involved in media literacy, improve on reading culture and adhere strictly to the ethics and integrity of the job if they truly want to stand out and be respected.