Ogun New Media Summit Urges Ethical Social Media Ahead of 2027
Stakeholders at the Ogun State Progressives New Media Summit have called for a more ethical, strategic and professional deployment of social media as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The summit, held on Thursday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, brought together political communicators, legal practitioners, journalists, content creators and social media influencers to deliberate on the theme: “Defending the Truth, Advancing Renewed Hope, and Shaping the Future of Progress for Ogun State with Senator Yayi.”
Delivering the keynote paper titled “New Media Imperatives for the 2027 General Elections,” communication consultant, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji, said the summit was convened to recalibrate the state’s new media ecosystem by promoting collaboration, ethical engagement, capacity building and value-driven communication.
According to Adeniji, the objective is to build a stronger and more coordinated online presence capable of improving public perception, promoting political brands and facilitating effective communication between leaders and the electorate.
He explained that the proposed new media architecture would shift emphasis from mere online engagement to meaningful conversion of public support through structured communication strategies.
“The goal is to remove the existing shortcomings in our digital engagement and establish a system that creates stronger online visibility, promotes our core values and ensures effective communication between political brands and the public,” he said.
Adeniji stressed that the political principals, as the brands in the proposed communication model, must provide adequate motivation, financial support and real-time accessibility to enable media teams function effectively.
He also challenged new media practitioners to continually improve themselves through digital literacy, creativity and the adoption of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence driven storytelling.
According to him, audience-focused content remains the foundation of successful digital communication.
“Content is king. Every content creator must first understand the audience, identify what they need and communicate information that is both credible and valuable,” he added.
Also speaking, legal practitioner, Hon. Adebayo Adekoya warned social media users against the indiscriminate publication of false or defamatory information, noting that such actions could attract criminal prosecution under existing laws.
He advised content creators and social media users to ensure they possess verifiable evidence before publishing allegations against any individual.
According to Adekoya, both the original publishers and those who share or republish defamatory content could be held liable under the law.
He urged Nigerians to avoid using social media for blackmail, fake news and character assassination.
Using President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an example, Adekoya noted that although the President had publicly stated that he no longer pays attention to social media because of persistent insults directed at him, other public figures may not hesitate to institute legal actions against those responsible for defamatory publications.
Former Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, called on political office holders to embrace social media as a continuous governance tool rather than restricting its use to election campaigns.
She said government activities and achievements should be consistently communicated through digital platforms to keep citizens adequately informed.
Adeleye further challenged new media handlers to become pace setters in information dissemination by breaking stories promptly instead of waiting for conventional media organisations to report events first.
According to a veteran journalist and Publisher of Gateway Times, Dayo Rufai, urged social media influencers to deploy their various digital platforms in projecting the positive achievements of government.
He noted that government communication continues to evolve and called for greater utilisation of different online platforms to effectively communicate government policies, programmes and developmental initiatives to the public.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Convener of the summit and Special Assistant on New Media to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Omooba Damilare Oloyede, described the gathering as a strategic platform to unite progressive digital communicators across Ogun State.
He said the summit was designed to connect, inspire and influence participants while equipping them with the skills required to combat misinformation and effectively communicate the achievements of progressive governments.
Oloyede described Ogun State as one of Nigeria’s leading states in political social media engagement and urged participants to move beyond routine online posting to strategic influence capable of countering falsehood with facts and promoting verifiable government achievements.
He also called for unity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the period of internal divisions was over.
According to him, supporters of the party should now work together in advancing the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu, protecting the legacy of Governor Dapo Abiodun and mobilising support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
He reaffirmed the need for ethical conduct, professionalism, collaboration and continuous capacity building as essential tools for strengthening political communication and promoting responsible use of new media in Nigeria’s democratic process.
