Two former editors of The Pointer newspaper and former Vanguard newspaper correspondent were among those who joined the Delta Online Publishers Forum, today.
They are Mr Julius Oweh, Publisher of The Pond News, Mr Smart Jikeme, Publisher of Fidelity Reporter and Mr Austen Ogwuda, Publisher of The Town Hall
Delta Online
Publishers Forum (DOPF) inducted the seven new members into the forum
The induction ceremony was held at the Ministry of Information conference hall with seven new members joining the forum as news publishers.
In his opening remarks, DOPF chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli noted that the forum has a rich history of excellence, therefore, it is the collective duty of all members to uphold the ethics of the journalism profession.
While advising the new inductees to always carry themselves as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of their different organisations, Enebeli pleaded that members should continue to pursue one aim.
The Vice chairman, Deacon Chukwudi Abiandu, while responding said that DOPF was not an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), neither it’s a chapel of the NUJ, but a forum of entrepreneurs in the business of online newspaper publishing.
“We are employers of labour, we are autonomous. Our operation is backed up by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”.
Other inductees are, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, publisher of Pebnews,Mr. Daniel Oji, publisher of Actual News, Mr. Celestine Ukah, publisher of Area News, and Mrs. Christy Aboghe, publisher of The Hill Nigeria.
As part of strategies to boost media business of the publishers, two financial institutions, Bank of Industry (BoI) and Premium Trust Bank were invited to talk to members on how raise funds to grow the publishing outfits.
Representatives of both banks were present at the induction ground where they delivered lectures on possibilities and eligibility criteria to raise funds through loans to boost either their publishing business or other ventures they deem necessary.