Lagos State Commissioner for Informantion & Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso has stressed that the modern days journalism major challenge is curbing fake news.
He stated this at the fourth Online Reporters Association of Nigeria , ORAN leadership seminar/lecture held Thursday 26th August 2021 at the ballroom of City People Hall, Gbagada, Lagos.
Honourable Gbenga Omotoso who was the cynosure of all eyes and keynote speaker analyzed the main topic of the day
“Financial Institution and the media in the Building of Leadership Amidst Covid 19 Challenges”.
He revealed that a lot have affected the media industry during the COVID-19 era.
“ Journalists are facing lots of challenges currently in reporting daily activities. But we need to show leadership. Society is looking at us as a role model. The major COVID-19 challenge we are facing in Journalism is fake news. Reporters must shun fake news. Do thorough investigation before you publish any story, that is leadership philosophy as far as journalism is concerned, either as an online reporter or hard copy reporting”.
Honourable Gbenga Omotoso however used the medium to reiterate the fact that the Gov. Babajide Sanwolu led administration is poised to work with the media and endeared all stake holders to uphold the rightful reporting that will lead to great leadership in the media sector and the society at large ,as leadership starts with us in the media.
In all our day to day activities, journalists need to be vaccinated. We need to wear our face masks, wash our hands in order to carry out our beats effectively.
Every journalists must follow the non pharmaceutical protocols of COVID-19 in our daily activities.
He also advised that rightful and factual reporting will help to build us not to disintegrate us.
He urged the financial Institutions to create soft loans for the media in other to lift the publishers and reporters from the adverse effects of the covid 19 challenges.
“Governor Babajide Sanw-Olu led administration is already planning to start up a mental health hospital in ketu Ejirin axis meant to address situations from loss of Jobs and businesses for those that are not in the right frame of mind as a result of COVID-19 challenges. This will be a 500 capacity bed hospital set to be ready next year”, Honourable Gbenga Omotoso concluded.
Other key not speaker was a representative of Head Corporate Affairs , Unity Bank, Mr Jonah Nwokpoku, who spoke on the effects of covid 19 and the challenges it has bestowed on the financial sector and entire country. Jonah also moved the fact that the bank has created codes to ease transactions due to physical contact during the COVID-19.
And Unity Bank gave out perllatives to the media . We are not relenting . We will look into creating soft loans to help the publishers at this time.
“ Unity will work on soft loans for publishers and and reporters as a result of COVID-19 challenges journalists are encountering “, he said .
Publisher City People Media Group, Dr Seye Kehinde added that journalists must shun fake news .
“ In building leadership, we have to observe COVID-19 protocols everyday as government instructed and shun fake news”, he said .
The President ORAN, Mr Shehu Tijani Adegbola said that the Association will try it’s best in hosting more seminars to educate, reorientate, restore the dignity of Journalists-reporters, editors, publishers to learn from different professionals in all fields of life. And most especially, to reposition the welfare of journalists in Nigeria.
Various online platforms publishers , editors, reporters were part of the event to learn from the experts.
