The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has called on stakeholders across the country to collaborate in strengthening online media amid a rapidly evolving digital environment. He made the call in Abuja during the third anniversary celebration of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE).
Delivering a keynote address titled “Strengthening Corporate Online Media for National Development,” Ochogwu represented by the Deputy Director in the Office of the DG, Chukwuemeka Mbah commended ACOE for selecting a theme he described as timely and strategic. He noted that Nigeria’s stability and future progress are deeply tied to the integrity and professional conduct of the online media sector.
“Online media has become a cornerstone in shaping narratives, promoting accountability, and advancing national development. More than half of Nigerians now obtain their information online. You are not merely reporters; you are agenda setters, gatekeepers, and guardians of public trust,” he said.
Ochogwu cautioned that misinformation continues to fuel tensions nationwide, especially against the backdrop of rising insecurity. He cited the November 2025 kidnapping of over 300 students and teachers in Niger State as an example of how false information can amplify panic and erode public confidence.
The IPCR DG stressed that strengthening online media will significantly enhance governance, transparency, peacebuilding, economic development, and citizen participation.
He outlined five key responsibilities for corporate online editors: ensuring accuracy, embracing digital innovation, prioritising national interest, resisting sensationalism, and adopting unity driven reporting.
Ochogwu reaffirmed IPCR’s commitment to deepening its partnership with ACOE through research support, training on conflict sensitive reporting, early warning collaboration, and joint media literacy initiatives.
