Bisi Deji-Folutile, Peter Oluka; full names and organisations of 10 newly-inducted publishers + What JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; Prof., of Capital Market, Uche Uwaleke; information minister, others said at the 7th Nationa Conference of GOCOP in Abuja.
The Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Adeola Yusuf, has been inducted into the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
The award-winning African journalist, alongside other publishers, was welcomed officially into the fold of reputable publishers in Abuja on Thursday. October 5, at the GOCOP’s 7th annual conference.
READ ALSO: 23 Oil Blocks Failed To Produce Crude –Nigerian Govt
United Nations Institute Names Adeola Yusuf Panelist For African IDEP Event
Panic Over 2024 Olympics As Plaque of Bedbugs Rocks Paris
6 Major Findings about Tinubu from the CSU Documents, By Farooq Kperogi
BUA Outsmarts Dangote, Slashes Cement Price To N3,500/Bag
Why, How I demanded Sex From Simi – Brymo (FULL STORY)
The list of inductees also includes publisher of Franktalk, Olabisi Deji-Folutile; publisher of Techeconomy, Peter Oluka; publisher of National Record, Iduh Onah; publisher of Bisladnews, Visits Bamise; publisher of OpenLife, Idumonza Isidahinmen; and publisher of Royal News.
Others are publishers of The Decision makers Online, Amos Adetunji; publisher of Newsbusiness Nigeria, Udochukwu Onyeka; publisher of Solacebase, Abdullateef Jos
Speaking at the event, the professor of capital market, Uche Uwaleke, declared that the ailing naira would bounce back to reduce hyperinflation and pains on the citizenry.
The expert from the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, who is also the Special Adviser to the Senate Committee Chairman on Capital Market, told online publishers that the moment Nigeria can stop fuel import, about 54 per cent of the cost of fuel ought to drop.
READ ALSO: Platforms Africa’s Adeola Yusuf Delivers Crescent Varsity’s MACOSA Lecture
The More You Hang Out With Your Mom, The Longer She’ll Live – Study
You Want To Live Long? Get a Second Wife, Study Says
Why Men With Low Sex Drive May Die Early – Study
Ovaries Now Begin Ageing For Women At Late 20s – Study
Non-Smokers, non-Vegetarians at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 – Study
Excessive Time on Facebook Can Lead to Depression – Study
This, he said, is because fuel importation accounts for 54 per cent of the fuel price, saying local refining alone ought to shed off this size of cost.
He said this should automatically reduce the bleeding of the naira and reduce inflation because fuel pushes prices of all other things up.
His advice thus is that the FG should intensify all strategies to get the refineries working, and then naira will firm up.
On the refineries, the expert urged the FG to sell or privatise government assets only at the Capital Market to ensure transparency, due process, corporate governance, and spread of equity to interested Nigerians.
“The NNPCL should be taken to the Capital Market, even if it’s a small percentage that is to be sold. This is because they will be under obligation to publish their records. Nigerians will take up equity in it. Saudi Arabia did so with Aramco, where 5% was sold. Do part privatization of the refineries at the Capital Market,” he said.
He also said states and regions should cooperate and build joint ventures in businesses peculiar to their areas and on which they hold comparative advantage.
READ ALSO: Marry, Divorce or Die, You Have Fingers To Lose; Damn Tale of Dani Tribe
Dinka Ethnic Group: Tales of World’s Tallest Tribe
Ovahimba and Ovazimba: African Tribes Where Free Sex Is Offered To Guests
Hamar: African Tribe Where Wives Beg Husbands To Flog Them For Love, Loyalty
26 Year-old Nigerian Breaks US Varsity Record In PhD Aerospace Studies
No One Has Ever Done This, Guiness World Records On ‘Human Milk Factory’
Uwaleke harped on the highly cherished One-State-One-Product (OSOP) concept and built industries in the products they have adopted. “It is a pity that what they put in the OSOP project is N1m per year. Why not pump huge sums, especially from the surplus to it, and boost industrial ventures in states.”
The professor pointed to what he called ‘Productive-Base Expansion/Diversification’, saying changing the structure of the economy from mono product to a multi-product one having capacity for multiple sources of forex is the way out.
In addition, he said it will be a boost to primary products to intermediate & finished products and shift from import-dependency to export-led economy.
“Promoting industrial parks and privatization of state-owned businesses such as NNPCL through the capital market for inclusive economic growth.”
In her welcome remarks, the president of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, said security was important as there can be no investment without security. She explained the reason for the conference; “There is a new administration in town, so there is the need to assist them with professional information to build sound roadmap.”
Giving a background on GOCOP, and the choice of Abuja, the president, who is the publisher of RealNews online media outfit, noted the group is made up of mediapreneurs who she described as seasoned practitioners that have gone through it all.
She assured that GOCOP has created mechanisms to control and discipline any erring members to ensure credibility in online journalism.
The chairman of the conference, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), agreed with GOCOP leadership, saying it is a right time to set agenda for the new governments at the national and sub-national levels, thus the choice of your theme for this conference “Nigeria: Roadmap for Socio-economic Recovery and Sustainability” is apt and relevant.
He said the Nigerian state is undergoing tremendous pressure under an excruciating socio-economic environment. “The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), though positive, has been growing at a declining rate over time. GDP growth was 5.01 per cent during Q2, 2021, compared with a growth of 2.51 per cent during Q2, 2023. Similarly, the inflation rate worsened, as it increased from 19.64 per cent in July 2022 to 24 per cent by July 2023. “Much more worrisome is the value of the Naira. It has now depreciated to above N700/$1.00 in the official market and above N1,000/$1.00 at the parallel market. These economic phenomenal have further put pressure on the well-being of Nigerians.”
Earlier, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who was the Chairman of the event called for a critical review of the renumeration of the public servants to curb corruption in high places.
“What the minister earn is small to the salaries of Managing Directors of some private entities under their ministries,” he said, adding that this breeds corruption.
The ministers of information and national orientation, Idris, added that the publishers should promote the country with positive reports.
