THE Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter (OMPAN), berthed on Thursday in Ibadan, the state capital.
The umbrella body for online media practitioners in the country also inaugurated its caretaker committee in the state. The event was held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting, OMPAN’s Deputy National President (South West), Peter Jones Ailuorio, a former News Editor of Leadership Newspaper disclosed that “the association was birthed in April in Owerri and so far, we have launched in Lagos and Ekiti states”.
He further noted that the future of journalism is online.
Also, the National Vice President pointed out that online Media has an advantage over the conventional media in that they can break the news as it happens without necessarily waiting till the following day. “Break the news, as long as you have verified, go ahead and publish”, he urged members.
Remarking, Olayinka Agboola, Chairman of the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) promised to cooperate with OMPAN, especially in view of it’s national outlook.
In a related development, a former Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the NUJ, Wale Ojo-Lanre, urged SWEGOP and other bodies to cooperate with OMPAN.
According to him, “Networking and alignment make things work. Let us synergize. Whatever goodness is there, let us tap it. Every connection is a plus.”
An ad-hoc committee was inaugurated to handle the affairs of the Oyo State chapter of the association for the next 12-months.
Remi Oladoye was appointed as the Chairman while Wole Adejumo and Musliudeen Adebayo became the Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively. Patrick Akpu was inaugurated as Assistant Secretary, Dare Adeniran, Public Relations Officer, Tolu Iyiade, Treasurer and Idowu Ayodele of Mega Icon Magazine, Welfare Secretary.
Oladoye in his remarks appreciated the association, for believing in him to lead the Oyo State chapter.
“We are in for a new thing. OMPAN will move beyond our imagination. We won’t only publish, we will also educate ourselves and organise programmes to emphasise what online journalism is all about. I promise not to disappoint you, with the confidence reposed in me,” he assured.
