Less than one week after its maiden stakeholders meeting, the Ikorodu Media Forum (IMF), a body of Ikorodu Division based Media Practitioners, Journalists and Bloggers have continued to receive support and endorsement from media stakeholders.
According to its Convener, Omo’ba ‘Peju Akinyemi Founder / CEO of Ikorodu Oga Online Radio the group was established on the tripod of Unity, Professionalism and Welfare of members.
“It is also intended to better the media practice in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State and to further reposition the media sector in Ikorodu Division”, he stated.
The second stakeholders meeting of the body held on Sunday was well attended by journalists, bloggers and other media professionals on the 29th of January 2023 at the Public Service Club in Ikorodu.
Some of the media outlets that graced the second meeting were stakeholders from; The Factor News Magazine, Blackbox Media, IKD Radio 106.1, Ajasa Info and Ikorodu News Network (INN), while some others who could not attend expressed delight and pledged their support for the newly formed organization.
Underlining its purpose and objectives, the meeting afforded stakeholders the opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas among themselves.
Com. Japhet Odesanya, Publisher of The Factor News Magazine lauded the initiative, stating that the media sector has come a long way to witness such a unifying forum in Ikorodu Division.
Emphasizing growth and content quality, Com. Odesanya underscored the need for respective media outlets to also elevate their practices by putting more professional touch to their content before circulation.
Urging the Convener to keep the platform open to accommodate more practitioners, Odesanya asserted that the strength tapped from a collective standpoint should never be taken with levity.
Advising the new-media practitioners present, Odesanya continued, “A lot of factors have affected the ethics of journalism today, but fortunately the sector has continued to provide room for inspired individuals to grow their intellectual capacity”.
“Nevertheless, the forum (as an alliance) should create room for constant learning and improvement of its stakeholders, this would give value to the profession we hold with high esteem”.
“I am optimistic this time that, unlike other failed attempts to build a formidable media forum, IMF would set the pace and give the media sector in Ikorodu the value it deserves” Odesanya concluded.
Co-founder of Blackbox Nigeria, Kayode Badmus applauded the vision of IMF, pleading with the Convener to work on modalities that would enhance the welfare economic empowerment of practitioners.
According to Badmus, “the media sector welcomes fresh intellects, but sustaining the outlet is a major challenge which a lot of enterprises suffer from”.
“I expect to reckon that with a forum like IMF, the interest of our profession will be prioritized while our profession is given due recognition it deserves”.
Badmus further urged interested members of the forum to stay committed to the course, adding that the end will always justify the means.
In his closing remarks, Omo’ba Akinyemi thanked the stakeholders for the honour of their presence and for their robust contributions to the success of the initiative.
He noted that the Ikorodu Media Forum (IMF) was an idea whose time has come and would soon become the rallying point of all and sundry.
