The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria on Thursday inaugurated its Oyo State Executive Committee.
The event, which took place at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, had in attendance OMPAN Deputy National President (South West) Peter Jones Ailuorio.
Ailuorio, a former News Editor of Leadership Newspaper, while speaking at the event, disclosed that “the association was birthed in April in Owerri and so far, we have launched in Lagos and Ekiti States.
“The future of journalism is online.”
He pointed out that online media has an advantage over the conventional media in that they can break the news as it happens without necessarily waiting till the following day.
He added: “Break the news, as long as you have verified, go ahead and publish.”
Ailuorio then inaugurated an interim executive committee members headed by Remi Oladoye of National Insight (Chairman) to handle the affairs of the Oyo State chapter of the association for the next 12 months.
Others who will work with him include Wole Adejumo of The Anchor (Vice Chairman) and Musliudeen Daramola Adebayo of Daily Post (Secretary).
Also on the list are Patrick Akpu of Newspeak, who was inaugurated as Assistant Secretary, Dare Adeniran of Trendscope as Public Relations Officer, Tolu Iyiade of Infinite News (Treasurer) and Ayodele Idowu of Mega Icon (Welfare Secretary).
The Chairman, South West Group of Online Publishers, Olayinka Agboola, in his remarks promised to cooperate with OMPAN, especially in view of its national outlook.
Speaking in the same vein, former Chairman of Oyo State Council of NUJ, Wale Ojo-Lanre, urged SWEGOP and other bodies to cooperate with OMPAN.
Ojo-Lanre: “Networking and alignment make things work.
“Let us synergize.
“Whatever goodness is there, let us tap it.
“Every connection is a plus.”
Oladoye, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, appreciated the association for believing in him to lead the Oyo State chapter.
He said: “We are in for a new thing.
“OMPAN will move beyond our imagination.
“We won’t only publish, we will also educate ourselves and organise programmes to emphasise what online journalism is all about.
“I promise not to disappoint you, with the confidence reposed in me.”