The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have formalised their commitment to advancing gender-inclusive reporting in Nigeria’s electoral processes, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in Lagos
The GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, signed on behalf of the media group, and the IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, signed for the Centre, following an earlier consultative parley on May 30 between the two organisations in Abuja.
A statement issued by the GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Kemi Yesufu, quoted Nmodu as saying that the partnership aligned with GOCOP’s mission to drive inclusiveness and gender equality in national discourse, particularly in politics and governance.
He recalled that the collaboration between the two organisations began during the tenure of GOCOP’s first female president, Maureen Chigbo, adding that his Executive Council (ExCo) will work to fully implement the objectives of the MoU.
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The GOCOP President assured: “We are committed to promoting the voices and visibility of women and other minority groups such as Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the governance space.”
According to him, the Guild will focus on sensitising female voters and amplifying their perspectives on issues of accountability, governance, and policy as part of its efforts to restore public trust in the electoral process as elected officials must live up to their campaign promises.
Nmodu said: “GOCOP journalists will continue to scrutinise and report on the performance of public office holders, ensuring they remain accountable to the electorate.”
In his remarks, the IPC’s Executive Director said the MoU with GOCOP, and a similar agreement signed by his organization and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), aim to foster inclusivity, transparency, and accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arogundade charged media organisations to lead impartial election coverage and hold stakeholders accountable throughout the electoral cycle, as “inclusive, transparent elections are key to democratic trust. The media must shine the light on both the process and its outcomes.”
Also speaking, NAWOJ National Chairperson, Aisha Ibrahim, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to amplifying women’s voices in politics and the media. She stressed the need for enhanced training opportunities for female journalists and called for more equitable newsroom policies.
She said: “Women must be visible as voters, candidates, analysts, and election observers. Inclusive elections are trusted elections.”
Commenting on the partnership between the GOCOP and IPC, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, described the deal as desirable for the nation’s electoral process and charged the media to remain a voice for the people, especially during elections.
A representative of the the Nigeria Police Force, Superintendent Orvenonne Ikwen, promised the Force’s readiness to work with the media to ensure peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
The MoU signing event also featured the presentation of IPC’s report titled “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity For Democratic Consolidation”, developed under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.
