ASKOMP Hosts Capacity Building Training for Members, Names Olateju Legal Adviser

By Nafiu Toyin Abdulqadri

Association of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP) organised a one-day capacity building training for its members in Ilorin to enhance their professional capacity.

The association’s Secretary, Prince Oyewale Oyelola while declaring the training open, assured particpants of the association’s commitment to supporting the development of every member in order to be up-to-date in line of their work especially in the ever growing digital media space.

The training witnessed two sessions led by Dr Abdulrasheed Saadudeen and Taofiq Olateju Esq.

Dr Saadudeen who was former Head of Department of Mass Communication in Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin emphasized the importance of journalists in generating informative and educative content for the society and highlighted their crucial role as agenda-setters and opinion moulders.

“Journalists play crucial role in keeping their people informed about happenings in their respective environment or society. They can also serve as agenda-setters and opinion moulders. Therefore, to do this job effectively, you are expected to have a strong command of the English language as a medium of expression and cultivate the habit of building relationships and networking with sources when gathering information for your reports.”

On his part, during the second session, Olateju Esq spoke on the topic – Strategic Law Against Public Participation (SLAPP). According to the famous Ghalib Chambers lawyer, if someone feels aggrieved by slander or libelous publication, they should seek legal recourse by approaching the appropriate court, such as a civil court or high court, with jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter instead of petitioning the police or security agencies to silence the person.

“The 1999 Constitution, as amended, guarantees freedom of expression in Section 39(1). Therefore, no other law should criminalize this freedom. Any law inconsistent with this provision would be null and void. There is no need for additional laws to criminalize freedom of expression. Defamation, injurious falsehood, and criminal defamation are clearly defined in our constitution. Journalists doing their work legitimately should be protected and if someone feels aggrieved by slander or libelous publication, they can approach a civil court or high court instead petitioning the police to silence or intimidate the journalists.”

The Kwara State Police PRO, Princess Adetoun Ejire, thanked ASKOMP members for their impactful role in keeping Kwara people informed without bias.

“I must commend every member of this association for your service to Kwara State in ensuring fair reportage of news. Your efforts are well appreciated and we must continue to be partners in progress for us to keep enjoying a peaceful state. The leadership of this association has done well putting together this kind of training. The place of learning and relearning cannot be overemphasised.”

In his key note address, the Chairman of ASKOMP, Salihu Shola Taofeek, thanked every stakeholder in Kwara for making the works of online journalists easier through strategic partnership and support.

“This training underscores our desire to continue to improve and sharpen our skills as demanded by the kind of job we do – online media business. We know it is important that we improve our skills to match the standard requirements of the ever growing new media. We appreciate the support of every stakeholder in Kwara State and it is our belief that the symbiotic relationship between us will continue.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman used the medium to announce Taofiq Olateju Esq as the official Legal Adviser of the association.

Giving the closing remark, the vice chairman of ASKOMP, Ogbeni Aiyelabegan Babatunde AbdulRasaq, expressed joy in the turn out of members and enjoined them to take to hearts all the lessons learnt from the lectures.

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