Kunle Adelabu
-Sanwo – Olu’s CPS calls for responsible use of digital media.
The management of the MegaXpression magazine has launched an online TV platform which is to be aired on YouTube as part of its efforts in positioning the brand as a leading community media organization.
The launch of the new initiative, which was held at the HOMAT Megalite hall in Igbogbo on Thursday, January 7, 2020, and attended by traditional rulers, politicians, community media practitioners, chieftains of youth groups in Igbogbo and local council functionaries, was in commemoration of the MegaXpression 5th anniversary.
The Pillars (supporters) of the organisation were also honoured with awards.
Mr Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State who was the guest lecturer at the event, spoke on the theme, “Effects of Information as a Tool to Combat Crime in the Age of Digital Media”.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the MegaXpression Community Magazine, Mr Shakiru Seidu, in his address, said that the new initiative was aimed at serving their audience better.
He said that the online TV, which is coming five years after publishing community magazine, will be used in further information dissemination.
“The journey of a thousand miles they say starts with a step. We started as ‘Igbogbo/Bayeku Info’ in 2015, before we later metamorphosed into MegaXpression (an all colour pages magazine).
“The hardworking management of this media organization has since then continued to birth new ideas that have positioned the brand as a leading media organization of repute in the Ikorodu Division.
“Having published MegaXpression Magazine for five years, we are excited to announce to you the newest and the latest inclusion to the MegaXpression Media brand, named MEGA-ONLINE TV, to be watched on YouTube with different segments that would whet the appetite of viewers and keep them on the edge of their seats.
“Our determination is to make use of the traffic on social media to entertain, educate and spread genuine information to the public. We have carefully designed this to let information get to the grassroots”.
While calling for assistance from the public, CEO also revealed future plans of the organization, stating that MegaXpression plans to have a proper TV station and cable network to fully maximize information business.
“As time goes on, we intend to establish Mega-Online TV to a proper TV station and cable network, in order to achieve more for our supporting brands and other brands willing to advertise, using the credibility of our media outlet”, he said.
“We call on credible businesses and members of the public to assist us financially and equally place adverts on our show and publications”.
Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom, while unveiling the Mega TV on behalf of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesties, Oba Kabir Shotobi and the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, said that the online TV will be available on YouTube and can be subscribed to.
“It’s our responsibility to develop this young man to become a household online television operator for the advancement of culture, community and our children”, Elesho said.
Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos East Senatorial District, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya who stated that, “information is power, communication is important”, pledged his support for the initiative.
“You have started small and I pray that it will grow. I will support the owner and the Mega TV for the development of Igbogbo in particular and the Ikorodu division as a whole”.
Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, while briefly speaking at the event, described the MegaXpression owner as a workaholic who does use his paper for attacking people but rather engages in objective and proper reportage of news and dissemination of information for the development of Ikorodu division and the society at large.
He prayed God should continue to guide and guard him and his team to enable them to further break new grounds in media business.
The publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago who was the father of the day, enjoined the CEO to focus more on advertisement, while also charging guests to assist the organization with patronages.
“Today’s launching will do you little help, but you must focus and intensify action on advertisements. That is the only way to survive.
“Anybody that wants to help you should be able to advertise his or her business in your news medium. If these people here don’t deem it fit to give you advert patronage, it will be difficult for MegaXpression to survive”, he emphasized.
“From my 36 years experience, there is no paper or television if there is no advert. It is on this basis that I will implore everyone here to give him (Seidu) support by placing adverts for their businesses in his news medium. That is how to sustain his media organization”, Olowosago charged guests at the event.
In his paper, Gboyega Akosile stated that the media as a watchdog in society has a crucial role to play in combating crime and crisis by using their platforms for effective and responsible dissemination of information.
“The world is now a global village and the advent of technology has made communication very easy. This is why millions of people in different parts of the world can be reached simultaneously through mass media within a twinkle of an eye.
“But no matter how people or media organization managers are highly qualified and skillful, if they do not possess good communication skills, they can set a community, nation or world on fire with harmful information.
“Therefore, effective communication is very important. This will help in disseminating and sharing information without creating any ambiguity or misleading the people.
“Media, as a fourth estate of the realm and watchdog of the society, has a crucial role to play in combating crime and crisis with effective communication and this is why many media organization devoted time and space for crime reporting with the main aim of exposing and combating crime and also educating and informing people on how not to be victims of crime”, he charged.
He said that news platforms should be used in agenda setting and not as a destabilizing factor in the society.
“Media organizations should work towards using their platforms to address issues in society and not fueling or setting the nation ablaze by erroneously reporting or informing in ways that may send a different signal other than their intended communication.
“Therefore, the media as an agent of change has a significant role to play in combating crime in the age of digital media”.
He cited the mayhem that followed the #EndSARS protest after it was hijacked and its attendant massive destruction in Lagos due to the failure of the digital media.
Akosile stated that the event that led to the setting of the state ablaze and the killing of innocent lives were due to misinformation on the social media.
“The aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest, which was hijacked by the hoodlums who looted and destroyed private and public properties worth billions of naira in different parts of Lagos State last year October, is a good example of negative effect of digital media in dissemination of information.
“The event that led to the massive destruction of properties and death of many innocent people in Lagos State after some unverified news about the shooting at Lekki on October 20,2020, was a result of misinformation and fake news in the digital media.
“If senders of the misinformation and fake news about the controversial Lekki shootings had acted in good conduct, verified their information and dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s before going public, Lagos would not have witnessed the kind of carnage it witnessed during the #EndSARS protest”, Akosile added.
Speaking on the positive use of the digital media, the CPS to the Lagos State Governor said that the security agencies have effectively used the medium to tackle insecurity by creating a platform to relate with the public.
“Digital media is an integral part of fighting crime and today, all the security agencies have designated social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms made available to the public for direct communication between them and the public.
“ The availability of the platform has helped the security agencies to combat crimes on many occasions. We are all aware of the whistleblower technique by the anti -corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has contributed immensely to the fight against corruption in both the private and public sector.
“The adoption of technology by EFCC has helped the agency to get reliable information on crimes in many organisations. People can now send petitions to the social media of security agencies and they will act on it immediately”, he said.
Eminent personalities honored with the Pillar Awards of MegaXpression at the event were His Royal Majesties, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly , Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area and Princess (Hon). Folashade Olabanji – Oba, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government.
Others were Sen. Adesewe Ogunlewe, former Minister for Works, Hon. (Chief) Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, former Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and former acting Commissioner for Tourism/Special Adviser on Arts & Culture, Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commision, Otunba (Dr) Saheed Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), High Chief Tajudeen Duduyemi Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, Alhaji Hamzat Olawale Amusa, CEO, HOMAT Group of Schools, Mr Ayodeji Sonubi and Engr. Olugbenga Ogunlewe.
