The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, met with members of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media (APCOM), who were on the visit to push continued engagement with the Lagos State Government.
The APCOM team, led by its National President, Abayomi Adejumo, said the visit was also an opportunity to discuss participatory journalism in communities as a means to advancing democratic benefits to the citizens.
The Commissioner admitted that Community Media platforms particularly newspapers are major outlets for news across the globe. He noted that funding has been a major impediment to the success of Community Newspapers, but few Community Newspapers have been able to sustain themselves through creative ingenuity.
“It is good that this meeting happened today. Community Journalism is what I like to discuss most times. The government will surely work with your members”, the Commissioner declared.
Gbenga Omotosho urged members of APCOM not to rest on their oars. He said; “We know you are closer to the people at the grassroots and you are playing a vital role serving as the voice of the people and watchdog in your various Communities”
In his remarks, the APCOM National President, Abayomi Adejumo, disclosed that funding has been a major bottleneck to the consistent publishing of Community Newspapers. “This constraint has not deterred some of its members from serving the information needs of their respective communities,” Adejumo said.
He also sought the support of the Ministry for its programmes and projects as an association.
The twilight of the meeting was the induction of the Honourable Commissioner as an Honorary Patron of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria.
Mr Oloyede of AgegeTv Online, the acting Public Relation Officer of APCOM, while delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the association appreciates the Honourable Commissioner for his kind gesture and for giving members of APCOM the audience which he believed is the beginning of a healthy and symbiotic relationship between the Lagos State Government and the Association of Practitioners of Community Media of Nigeria (APCOM).
He assured the Commissioner of the continuous professional conduct of its members and commitment towards the development of communities in Lagos State and Nigeria at large through the effective dissemination of factual information.
At the visit, the Commissioner was also joined by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Olumide Sogunle, the Director of Public Affairs Adesegun Ogundeji and other members of Staff.
Other Community media Practitioners also present at the meeting were, Mr Oloyede Kolawole of AgegeTv Online, and Mr Wale Adeleye of Grassroot Times.
