Tompolo’s Spokesman, Former Title Editors Of Pointer, Ex-Vanguard State Correspondent, Three Others Inducted Into DOPF

Ruona Okpomor, Asaba

Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s Spokesman and lecturer, Delta State University, Abraka, Mr. Smart Jikeme, Mr. Julius Oweh, both former title Editors of Pointer Newspaper, Mr. Austin Ogwuda, former Delta State Correspondent of Vanguard Newspaper and three others were inducted as new members of the Delta State Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

The induction ceremony was held in Asaba, Delta State Capital with the seven new members joining the forum as Online News Publishers.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, Chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) said that the Forum has a rich history of excellence adding that 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, Mr Enebeli pleaded that members should continue to pursue one aim.

Also speaking, Deacon Chukwudi Abiandu, Vice chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) eacon Chukwudi Abiandu, said that Forum is not an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) just as it’s not a Chapel of the NUJ, but a Forum of entrepreneurs in the business of online newspaper publishing.

“According to Dcn. Abiandu, “we are employers of labour, we are autonomous. Our operation is backed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”.

The inductees are, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, publisher of Pebnews, Mr Oweh Julius, publisher of The Pond News, Mr Jikeme Smart, publisher of Fidelity Reporters and Mr. Ogwuda Austin, publisher of The Town Hall.

Others are 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 give pep talk to members on how raise funds to grow their publishing outfits.

Representatives of both banks were present at the induction ceremony delivered lectures on possibilities and eligibility criteria to raise funds through loans to boost either their publishing business or other ventures they deem necessary.