The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (OMPAN), on Tuesday paid a visit to the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu at government House, Umuahia.
The group was led by its chairman in Abia state, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo who revealed that the group was in the government House as part of its familiarisation tour with the people of the state since its new state Exco were elected on February 2018.
Nwankwo noted that online media have come to stay and highlighted the challenges being faced by OMPAN and pleaded with the state government to look into their plights.
Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu
He pleaded with the state government to provide a conducive environment for OMPAN and also a vehicle which the group will be using for their works in the state.
He also assured the deputy governor that members of OMPAN are ready to work for the progress of the state and its people.
Speaking during the visit, the Abia State Deputy Governor commended (OMPAN) for coming together to curtail the widespread of fake news in the state.
Oko revealed that the formation of the online regulatory body was imperative as it would help the state government to know those who are career online journalists and those using the internet space to fight their perceived political enemies.
In his words,
“There is no gain saying the fact that in few years from now people may be left with no alternative than to read news only from the online news sites.
“This is because the online publishers has many ways of attracting your attention to read their stories.
“If they put it on facebook and you refuse to open your facebook page, they will send it to your whatsapp page and if you refuse to check your whatsapp messages, they will forward it to you as text messages.
“In a word the online medium has proven to be a veritable Chanel of information dissemination across the world today, he said.
He charged the association to take the issue of censorship among its members seriously, saying that it would help to checkmate the publication of fake news on the internet.
He assured the group of the readiness of the state government to partner her members in the state to make their operations hitch free.
Igbere TV reports that the delegation that paid the courtesy visit to the Deputy governor are the National President of OMPAN, Comrade, Emeh James Anyalekwa, Mr. Emenike Iroegbu, OMPAN National secretary and the National Editor Mr. Ifeanyi Okali and many others.
From left, Nneka Torti and other members of OMPAN
From left, ABN Boss, Okali, Abia Fact Newspaper Boss, Emenike Iroegbu, Igbere TV Director, Emeh James Anyalekwa
Members Of OMPAN with Deputy Governor Of Abia State
Members of OMPAN
Members of OMPAN
