First female GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, bows out gracefully …as guild Elects Danlami Nmodu as new President, charts future of ethical Online Publishing
By Anthony Isibor
MAUREEN Chigbo, PhD, President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, on Thursday delivered her final welcome address as president at it’s 9th Annual Conference held in Lagos, setting a reflective and forward-looking tone for the event. The conference, themed “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects,” attracted high-profile dignitaries from politics, academia, and the media industry. Chigbo, in her remarks, expressed appreciation to the dignitaries for honoring GOCOP’s invitation despite their tight schedules. “Thank you, sir, for diverting your precious time to the cause of GOCOP.
We are encouraged by your sacrifice to be here today with us,” she told Chief Bode George. Highlighting a major milestone in GOCOP’s history, Chigbo announced that the 2025 conference marked her last as president, as the Guild successfully conducted its first-ever contested presidential election. Danlami Nmodu, mni, emerged as the new president, while Mr. Olumide Iyanda was elected vice president. “For the first time, GOCOP held an actual election to vote its president.
We came out of the contest not divided but strong as one GOCOP family. The peaceful election sets a new precedent and foretells a bright future for the Guild,” she said. She commended the Electoral Committee led by Mr. Ozi Isi and Mr. Nmodu, describing the exercise as transparent and unifying.
Strengthening Professionalism and Sustainability Chigbo outlined the achievements of her administration, including efforts to institutionalised sustainable structures for the Guild, particularly through the publication of “GOCOP at a Glance” and “The Nigerian Media Renaissance.” The publications, she said, document the Guild’s constitution, welfare policies, and historical milestones, providing reference materials for members and the media community. She urged the incoming leadership to build on these foundations by prioritizing professional development, ethical standards, and financial sustainability. “Take up the gauntlet to see how the desires of our members, which we were not able to fulfill, can be actualised during your tenure,” she advised. Chigbo also called on members to embrace their role as mediapreneurs, balancing professionalism with profitability, while upholding integrity and credibility in online publishing. The outgoing president also announced the induction of eight new members, selected from 35 applicants after a rigorous screening process. She reminded them that GOCOP remains a peer-review body committed to sanitising online journalism and upholding ethical reporting standards. “Stay clear of fake news and unethical practices to avoid losing your membership.
Remember, the Ombudsman Committee is watching,” she cautioned. Chigbo expressed gratitude to the 18-member conference planning committee led by Mr. Danlami Nmodu and Mr. Olumide Iyanda, as well as sponsors and institutional partners who contributed to the success of the event. She acknowledged support from the Lagos, Delta, Kogi, and Ekiti State Governments, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NLNG, Dangote Group, Seplat, Shell, First Bank, Access Bank, FCMB, Sahara Group, NNPCL, and others. “My deep appreciation goes to all organisations and individuals who have continued to support GOCOP.
May your businesses continue to thrive so you can keep supporting us,” she said. Closing her address, Chigbo expressed optimism about the Guild’s future and reaffirmed her commitment to its vision of promoting credible journalism and ethical digital publishing in Nigeria. “It was not an easy road, but we are happy all our efforts paid off.
I welcome everyone to this year’s conference and look forward to seeing you all again in October 2026,” she concluded. In attendance were the Chairman of the Occasion, His Excellency Chief (Dr.) Bode George, former Military Governor of Ondo State and former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Guest Speaker, Rt Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Katsina State. Others were Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA); Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director, Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos; Chief Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity; and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture, among others.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
