The Kwara State Commissioner for communications, Mrs Bolanle Adenike Olukoju, has called on the leadership of the Association of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP) to encourage its members to give government activities more coverage. Mrs Olukoju made this call on Monday while hosting leadership of the association led by its Chairman and Informant247 Publisher, Salihu Shola Taofeek in her Office.
The Commissioner said the strategic investment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on infrastructure aimed at giving the state facelift and attracting investors as well as tourists deserves the support of all Kwarans.
“A lot of developmental projects and programmes have been done by this government in the last 5 years; Standard road networks, International Conference Centre, Film Village and many more. Apart from traditional media outlets such as radio and television, online media is also very important to us in reporting some of these fundamental infrastructural developments in the state.”
“I will urge your association to consider working with us in harmony without jeopardising your values and ethics. The government is a complex entity, and every stakeholder, including ASKOMP, is important to us. We can be partners in progress.”
Mrs Olukoju said the state government has a lot of programmes coming up, which she urges the leadership of ASKOMP to encourage other members to help give adequate coverage. She promised to work with the association in projecting the state government activities. She, however, implored the association to continue to uphold ethics of journalism.
“Let us all put our dear State first in carrying out our duties. Encourage your members to give government activities more coverage because we are Kwarans first. For instance, the state government is already working on preventive measures to avoid a cholera outbreak in the state. The Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, will on Thursday, June 27th, inaugurate Steering Committee on prevention of Cholera outbreak. I believe we all have the responsibility to protect and project our state in the best way we can. ”
Earlier on, ASKOMP Chairman Salihu Shola Taofeek said the association has 40 online news platforms operating in Kwara State, noting that its members are contributing to the state economy through payment of taxes and creating jobs.
“ASKOMP has always been partners in progress with everyone. What we don’t like is unnecessary friction being created by some unscrupulous people who don’t know how journalism works. We appreciate you for this recognition and honour. The association will continue to work within the purview of the law. We have over 40 member-platforms spread across the three senatorial districts. We will continue to do our best for our state and hope journalists in Kwara will no longer suffer any form of harassment.”
Other ASKOMP executive members at the meeting were Aiyelabegan Babatunde AbdulRasaq (Vice Chairman), Oyewale Oyelola (Secretary), Nafiu Toyin Abdulqadri (Financial Secretary), Oluwatoyin Lukman (Auditor) and Nasif Solagberu (Welfare Secretary).
