As a prelude to her Annual Conference on October 6, 2022, the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers has concluded plans to host media managers in both private and public sectors to a business lunch on October 5 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos by 12noon.
This development was revealed in statement on Tuesday by the Publicity Secretary of GOCOP, Remmy Nweke.
He said the luncheon was specifically to provide a relaxed atmosphere for networking and active engagement between members of GOCOP and the media managers of corporate organisations, states and federal governments, ministries, departments and agencies.
Nweke said in the statement: “All image and perception managers, including Chief Press Secretaries, Commissioners for Information, Corporate Communications employees of parastatals, ministries, agencies, financial institutions, manufacturing and service sectors, advertising and public relations practitioners are expected at the event.
“The luncheon highlights the seriousness and commitment of GOCOP to partner with major actors in the public and private sectors as well as international agencies.”
Already, activities have heightened for a successful hosting of this year’s conference, themed: “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome,” which will feature prominent stakeholders in the polity, civil society organisations, security, judiciary and media among others.
This year’s conference, which will be holding barely five months to the 2023 general elections and one week into the official commencement of campaigns by political parties, will provide a roadmap for political actors and the various publics on the need to play by the rules and conform to acceptable electoral behaviour, GOCOP said.
This year’s conference is the 6th in the series.
Speakers at previous conferences included Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, who delivered the 2019 lecture on: “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward.”
In 2021, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, keynoted the Conference in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Mustapha spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”
Nweke in the statement on Tuesday added: “The choice of this year’s theme was informed by contemporary political, economic, security and socio-cultural challenges facing Nigeria ahead of a very critical general election.
“The conference will bring together many policy and decision makers from the private and public sectors as well as scholars, non-governmental organizations and the media.”
The statement said the Guild was mindful of the current state of the nation, especially in an election year, hence it chose to focus on the forthcoming elections.