The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called upon online publishers to emphasize positive news about Nigeria on social media platforms, stressing its significance for the country’s socio-economic development.
Minister Idris made this appeal while addressing members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) during their 7th Annual Conference, themed “Roadmap for Socio-Economic Recovery and Sustainability.”
He emphasized that one vital element of the roadmap for socio-economic recovery and sustainability should be presenting the country in a favorable light. According to the minister, doing so would attract foreign direct investment and support other developmental initiatives.
“If you seek foreign direct investment, aspire for Nigeria’s growth, and aim for the same prosperity that great nations enjoy, you must be willing to project your own nation; no one else will do it for us,” Minister Idris asserted.
The minister urged the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to fulfill its duty with patriotism and professionalism, underlining that the positive developments in the country outweigh the negative ones and should be highlighted.
“As the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, you bear the significant responsibility of reporting the truth and assisting government officials in doing the same; this responsibility rests with you, and you must uphold it,” Minister Idris said.
He encouraged the Guild to persist in its efforts to combat fake news disseminated by online media and to maintain its peer review system and disciplinary actions against members who breach standards.
Mr. Idris reaffirmed the government’s dedication to restoring credibility to government affairs and encouraged Nigerians to maintain optimism in the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is diligently crafting a roadmap for the country’s socio-economic recovery and sustainability.
“You must trust the leader you have chosen, and that’s the only way to hold him accountable when necessary,” he emphasized.
On her part, the president of the Guild, Mrs. Maureen Chigbo, assured that the Guild would continue to uphold the professionalism for which its members are known. She noted that not all online publishers are members of the guild due to its insistence on a mechanism to scrutinize and penalize errant members who do not adhere to ethical standards.
“We will persist in our efforts to ensure our members maintain professionalism as our guiding principle,” Mrs. Chigbo stated.
The event also witnessed the presence of Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, and the Registrar of JAMB, among other dignitaries.