The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) will on Wednesday, October 5 host media managers from the private and public sectors for a business lunch as part of activities for its annual conference.
A statement issued by the association’s publicity secretary Remmy Nweke on Tuesday said the luncheon is specifically to provide a relaxed atmosphere for networking and active engagement between GOCOP members and information managers of corporate organisations and government ministries, departments and agencies.
“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,” the statement said.
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.
The conference which will be held barely five months before 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 include Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto who delivered the 2019 lecture on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward”. In 2021, Mr. 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. He spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”
“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 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.
