The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that all is set for its 2025 Annual Conference, which will critically examine the widening gap between political campaign promises and governance realities in Nigeria.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025, will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, according to a statement signed by GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke.
With the theme, “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects,” this year’s conference seeks to provide actionable insights into why many elected leaders fail to meet their commitments to Nigerians despite repeated pledges during election campaigns.
The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee and GOCOP Deputy President, Danlami Nmodu, mni, said preparations have been concluded to ensure a robust and issue-driven dialogue that will hold government officials and political actors accountable for their campaign rhetoric.
The event will be chaired by Chief Bode George, former Governor of Old Ondo State and ex-Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State, will deliver the keynote address.
Panelists include Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), and Alhaji Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), among other governance and media experts.
Mr. Nmodu noted that the GOCOP conference has evolved into a credible forum where journalists, policymakers, and civil society actors dissect Nigeria’s governance challenges and advocate for reforms that promote transparency and accountability.
He said the event also reinforces GOCOP’s mission to advance ethical and responsible journalism in the digital era—particularly at a time when misinformation, political propaganda, and governance failures continue to undermine citizens’ trust in leadership.
Past editions of the conference have featured prominent voices such as Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Boss Mustapha, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, and Liyel Imoke, who offered deep insights into Nigeria’s democracy, security, and economic challenges.
GOCOP, a professional body of over 120 digital publishers, comprises journalists and editors who transitioned from traditional media to online platforms, committed to the values of credibility, accuracy, and public accountability.
