The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga who met with Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) members in Abuja on Friday, emphasized the important of collaboration and in-depth reporting for online platforms.
The delegation of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) led by the Chairman, Martin Odiete made a courtesy visit to the Presidency to seek collaboration at this time when Nigerians are eager for essential information from the Renewed Hope administration.
Onanuga expressed appreciation for the warm visit and good wishes extended by the members of the association while interested in working with the association due to its ethical direction and pledged the Federal Government’s collaboration.
He also emphasized the importance of synergy among existing online media bodies to enhance on-the-job proficiency, effectiveness, and the dissemination of news in line with global best practices, particularly in light of the influence of online media over traditional media.
According to him, “I want to thank you all for wishing me a happy birthday, even if it’s a day late. I hope all of you live long, healthy, and prosperous lives. I wish the best for all of you as I wish for myself. Thank you very much.
“I extend a warm welcome to the Association of Corporate Online Editors. This is the third online association we have encountered.
“We are already dealing with two others, although I can’t recall their names at the moment. However, your presence is appreciated. The more associations we have while dealing with Nigeria’s information architecture, the better.
“I have heard someone say that the govt is not communicating effectively, but I want to debunk that. We are communicating through various channels. The media landscape has changed significantly with the rise of numerous actors and platforms. 
“There are social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and others. If you shift away from traditional media, you’ll find that numerous individuals own online media outlets.
“The information system is so diverse now that we can not welcome every entity operating in this space. So, in addition to the two associations I mentioned earlier, you are also very welcome.” – Onanuga stressed.
The media guru urged online platforms to work together to improve the quality of news and information while suggested that by pooling their resources and working in synergy, online platforms could produce more in-depth and informative content.
Onanuga who advised online publishers to consolidate their platforms to ensure more depth in their news stories, as opposed to simply publishing shallow content, stated need to avoid using unnecessary adjectives in news reporting and stressed importance of rigorous journalism.
Finally, he encouraged online publishers to come together, stating that collaboration would result in richer and more compelling content.
“You will also see that advertisements placements follow; you will discover that your traffic will automatically increase because readers want quality. But if you are operating in silos, it is never going to be easy at all,” Onanuga warns.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Martins Odiete expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, regarding the meeting with the body of online editors.
During his presentation titled: “Collaborating for a Stronger Online Media Landscape in Nigeria,” Odiete highlighted ACOE’s modus operandi and emphasized the importance of working with the Presidency’s media team for media collaboration.
He stressed the need for collaboration at this time when Nigerians are eager for essential information on renewed hope agenda of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
ACOE statement reads in parts: “It is a great honour to meet with you today and on behalf of Association of Corporate Online Editors, though belated, we still want to wish you a happy birthday sir.
“It is important to state here that members of this Association are thoroughly screened to avoid admitting the wrong persons.
Part of the criteria used in screening them include and are not limited to; you must be a registered NUJ member, your organization must also be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, we’re also emphasizing the need for members to pay their taxes, and most importantly you must be published daily. So this is what distinguishes us, sir.
“To this end, we are here to engage you on a subject of immense importance to us, which is: the collaboration between online media editors and your office as the Senior Special Adviser on media and strategy to our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In an age where information flows ceaselessly across digital platforms, this partnership is pivotal for ensuring accurate, responsible, and effective dissemination of news and information” Odiete stressed.
