It is A foremost sociopolitical group dedicated to the campaign for democracy and good governance in Oyo state under the umbrella of GSM Advocates yesterday held a one-capacity building training for its online influencers.
The one-day event which was held in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state was designed to equip participants with training in the demands and dynamics of digital media, image projection, and online influencing in a consistently evolving global world.
Convener of the event, Akeem Olatunji who is the Director General of the Group in Oyo state disclosed to journalists that the training became expedient and important for GSM Advocates members intobreast them with responsibilities and legal obligations on an online influencer to avoid abuse of the social media while projecting a brand or an image, particularly in reporting and propagating activities of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Olatunji stated that GSthe M Advocates Group was created about four years ago to champion the course of democracy and good governance under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde who he said has continued to reshape the political landscape of the state and the nation which according to the former Publicity Secretary of the PDP became more evident during the last general elections in Nigeria.
The keynote speaker and guest lecturer, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju who is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, spoke on the theme “Social media impact on public relations and adoption of 21st century professionalism and ethical issues in public relations.
The media guru harped on the need for participants to continually learn, relearn and unlearn stressing that many people have continued to abuse special media out of ignorance. He maintained that an online influencer operating within the digital marketplace could excel without running afoul of acceptable ethical conduct on social media.
He urged participants to deploy the acquired training from the event in their day-to-day operation within the social media space as good examples and advocates of democracy and good governance stressing that Oyo state and Nigeria belong to all Nigerians and such should always be remembered while going about their online activities.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Broadcast Media to Governor Makinde, Mrs Abosede Sodiq in her submission while addressing participants stressed the need for media teams to resist being confrontational in carrying out their duties but communicate sathe me putting state interest above personal interest.
She charged participants to avoid fanning embers of discord and disaffection capable of setting the society on the path of unrest and to only promote image or brand bearing in mind the need to bring about peaceful coexistence across multi-ethnic residents of the state.
Similarly, the Executive Assistant on Administration to Governor Makinde, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe encouraged members of GSM Advocates to remain committed and dedicated to the promotion of good governance of Governor Makinde.
Earlier, Olatunji who went down memory lane gave a brief historical background of the Group and the purpose of creating it some four years ago. He described the organization as a peace-building sociopolitical body committed to advocating democracy and good governance.
He said members of the group operate primarily in areas where the good governance of Governor Makinde seasoned down or underreported both the mainstream and digital media for whatever reasons and to adequately take the governor’s achievements to every nonooknd crannies of the state.
“Recognising the fact that media regarded as the fourth estate of the realm is a great influencer that shapes society, Olatunji said: “Hence, members of GSM Advocates have really contributed and also ready to do more on content analysis; creating news stories and social media influencing on topics related to sustainable development in Oyo State.
