GOCOP partners NCDMB, EMADEB, Dangote, NCAA, Setraco, UBA, NCC, others for 2024 conference
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) is poised to host its highly anticipated 8th annual conference on October 3, 2024. This year’s event promises to be a significant milestone, bringing together top stakeholders, thought leaders, and policy influencers from both the public and private sectors, united in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing Nigeria today. Held under the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy,” the conference will take place at the prestigious Reverton Hotel in GRA, Lokoja, Kogi State. The discussions and engagements during this conference are expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, particularly with respect to the nation’s ongoing battle against insecurity, its need for infrastructural improvements in the power sector, and the much-needed shift toward a robust digital economy.
The chairman of the 2024 Conference Planning Committee, Danlami Nmodu, mni, disclosed in a statement issued by GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Sir Remmy Nweke, that the list of partners for this year’s conference continues to grow, with major corporate entities and public institutions aligning their support behind the event. Leading the list of partners are the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Emadeb Group, and Dangote Group, all of whom have made significant commitments to ensure the success of the event. These organizations are renowned for their contributions to various sectors of the Nigerian economy, and their participation underscores the importance of the issues on the agenda.
Nmodu further listed other prominent partners that have confirmed their involvement in the 2024 conference. Among them are the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Setraco Nigeria Limited, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). These partnerships are vital to the overarching objective of the conference, as each of these organizations brings a wealth of experience, resources, and expertise in addressing the critical issues Nigeria faces today, particularly in the areas of security, infrastructure, and digital transformation.
According to Nmodu, the 2024 edition of the conference will feature a keynote address by former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke. Imoke, an influential figure with extensive experience in governance and public service, is expected to provide deep insights into the theme of the conference, drawing from his tenure in office, during which he tackled numerous challenges related to insecurity, power generation, and economic development in Cross River State. His keynote speech will set the tone for what promises to be a highly engaging and solution-oriented dialogue among attendees.
In addition to the keynote address, the conference will feature a robust lineup of guest speakers, including notable personalities such as the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Retd), and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida. These individuals, having played critical roles in shaping national policies in their respective sectors, are uniquely positioned to offer valuable perspectives on the issues at hand. Buratai, who oversaw the Nigerian Army during some of the country’s most turbulent security challenges, is expected to share his experiences and suggest innovative approaches to tackling Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity issues. Dr. Maida, on the other hand, will provide expert insights into the NCC’s efforts to drive Nigeria’s transition to a digital economy, including the role of communication infrastructure in enabling that transition.
A significant feature of this year’s conference is the introduction of a business luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the same venue. The luncheon will provide an exclusive platform for GOCOP partners and key stakeholders to engage in high-level networking and discussions. This luncheon will serve as a precursor to the main conference, offering a more intimate setting for participants to delve into specific business-related aspects of the conference’s theme. It will also offer a unique opportunity for GOCOP’s partners to forge new business relationships and collaborations that could extend beyond the conference itself.
The panel discussions at the conference are also expected to be particularly engaging. Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, a distinguished professor of Political Science at the Federal University Lokoja, will be one of the lead panelists. He will bring an academic perspective to the discussions, particularly on the political implications of transitioning to a digital economy and how insecurity impacts national development. Another key panelist is Ms. Debrah M. Ogazuma, an edutainment communicator and veteran broadcaster. Her inclusion on the panel underscores the importance of the media in shaping public discourse around national issues such as security and economic growth. As a respected figure in Nigeria’s media landscape, Ogazuma’s input will likely touch on the role of media in bridging the information gap between policymakers and the general populace, especially in a digital age.
Reflecting on the history of GOCOP conferences, Nmodu recalled that the 2023 edition was chaired by Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), while the keynote address was delivered by Nigeria’s first Professor of Capital Market, Professor Uchenna Joseph Uwaleke. In previous editions, other prominent figures have delivered keynote addresses, including the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, who spoke on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward” in 2019. In 2021, Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, addressed the theme, “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria,” while in 2022, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), delivered a keynote on “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome.” Each of these conferences has served as a vital forum for addressing critical national issues, with the contributions of the speakers helping to shape public policy and drive national discourse.
GOCOP was established to promote the tenets of responsible journalism in the digital age, and it serves as a platform for corporate online publishers to engage in meaningful dialogue on national and global issues. The Guild’s membership is composed of over 104 corporate publishers who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, transitioning from traditional print and electronic media to the more dynamic world of online journalism. The Guild continues to play a crucial role in setting standards for online journalism in Nigeria, emphasizing accuracy, ethical reporting, and integrity.
The 2024 GOCOP conference is expected to continue this tradition, bringing together some of the brightest minds in journalism, governance, and the private sector to discuss and offer solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. With the strong support of partners like NCDMB, Emadeb Group, Dangote Group, NCAA, Setraco Nigeria Limited, UBA, and the NCC, the conference is well-positioned to be a success, and its outcomes could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s future, particularly in terms of addressing insecurity, resolving the power deficit, and transitioning the country to a fully digital economy.
The importance of this conference cannot be overstated, as Nigeria continues to grapple with significant security challenges, a weak power infrastructure, and the urgent need to embrace the digital age. By bringing together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, academia, and the media, GOCOP’s 2024 conference will serve as a critical forum for charting a new course for Nigeria’s future development.
