ACOE At Three: IPCR DG, Ochogwu Canvasses Strengthening Online Media As Nigeria Battles Misinformation, Insecurity, Others

The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has urged stakeholders nationwide to collaborate in strenghtening Online Media in a rapidly evolving digital space, as the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) commemorates its third anniversary in Abuja.

Ochogwu made this statement during his keynote address titled “Strengthening Corporate Online Media for National Development.”

Represented by the Deputy Director of the Office of the DG, Chukwuemeka Mbah, the IPCR leader remarked that the theme was aptly chosen by the Online Editors. He commended ACOE for its visionary leadership, asserting that Nigeria’s stability and future progress are closely linked to the integrity and conduct of the online media sector.

“Online media has emerged as 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 stated.

He warned that misinformation continues to exacerbate tensions across the country, particularly in light of increasing insecurity, referencing the November 2025 kidnapping of over 300 students and teachers in Niger State as a troubling instance of how false information can heighten panic and erode public confidence.

The IPCR DG underscored that streghtening online media will improve governance, transparency, peacebuilding, economic development, and citizen participation.

He highlighted five essential responsibilities for corporate online editors: accuracy, digital innovation, national interest, anti-sensationalism, and unity-focused reporting.

He reiterated IPCR’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with ACOE through research support, training in conflict-sensitive reporting, early-warning collaborations, and joint media literacy initiatives.