Maureen Chigbo: Visionary leader taking GOCOP to greater heights, by Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” — John C. Maxwell.
Maureen Chigbo, Publisher and Editor of Realnews Magazine, Nigeria’s pioneering online magazine, is the first female and fourth President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). She assumed office on 3rd October 2021 after a keenly contested election during the Guild’s fourth Annual General Meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
GOCOP was established to ensure that online publishers uphold the tenets of journalism, and the association now boasts more than 104 members.
The Guild’s founding members and Emeritus Presidents include Malachi Agbo of TheCitizen, Musikilu Mojeed of Premium Times, and Dotun Oladipo of the Eagle Online.
In her acceptance speech after the election, Maureen promised to reposition the association and promote the interests of its members. She has demonstrated that she is a skilled manager and a visionary leader who values and nurtures human relationships.
One of the innovations introduced by Maureen is celebrating Guild members on their birthdays by presenting them with cakes, regardless of their location. She follows up with a telephone call to the celebrant, extending best wishes to their families.
This annual gesture has significantly fostered love, trust, confidence, and strong relationships among Guild members.
Before Maureen’s tenure, the Guild operated without an office, but under her leadership, the association now has suitable office accommodation in Lagos.
The Guild’s membership has also increased from 80 to more than 104 and counting, with prospective members undergoing rigorous vetting before admission.
The association now has an active website, and GOCOP members have continued to distinguish themselves, with some securing international, federal, and state government appointments, thereby raising the Guild’s public profile.
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The Guild’s pioneer president, Malachi Agbo, is now the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication in Enugu State, and his successor at GOCOP, Musikilu Mojeed, is the President of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Similarly, Femi Soneye, Publisher of Per Seconds News, has been appointed Chief of Corporate Communications at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Rasheed Olawale of Sahel Standard is the Chief Press Secretary to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and this writer, Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim of August24news.com, has been appointed Senior Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communications to the Chairman of the Lagos Island East Council.
The Maureen-led GOCOP Executive has continued to secure advertisements and partnership support from multinational companies and federal government agencies for association members.
There have also been increased collaborative partnerships between GOCOP and public and private sector organisations, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NNPCL, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Many who have interacted with Maureen describe her as a good listener, a strategist, an astute administrator, a motivational speaker, a mentor, and an unassuming great thinker who treats others with love, respect, dignity, and honour.
Maureen’s exemplary leadership has positively impacted the operations of the Guild, especially in accountability and financial management.
In an interview with this writer, the soft-spoken GOCOP President insisted that all achievements by the association during her tenure could not have been possible without the guidance of God, her family, past leaders of the association, and the cooperation of its members.
Commenting on Maureen’s achievements as GOCOP President, Mr. Musbau Rasak, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of The Gazzelle News.com, stated that Maureen’s “leadership and management style” qualifies her for higher responsibilities, including federal appointments.
“She will perform excellently wherever she finds herself. Her records and achievements as GOCOP President indicate that she is a good administrator and a leader worthy of emulation,” declared Rasak, a former Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Another Guild member, Mr. Idumonza Isidahomhen, Publisher of Openlife Magazine, remarked that Maureen has brought “a motherly disposition to the GOCOP presidency.”
“She identifies with everyone in times of joy and pain. She prays for and supports everyone in all seasons,” Isidahomhen said, adding, “History will be kind to her as a leader, patriot, and a sweet mother.”
Echoing Isidahomhen’s sentiment, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Founder of Penpushing Media, noted that he first encountered Maureen during her inaugural term as GOCOP President, describing her as “a man in a woman’s skin,” who embodies the idea that what a man can do, a woman can do better.
Kayode-Adedeji listed Maureen’s leadership qualities as “her proactive nature, commitment to achieving results, and providing support for association members through her reliable contacts and integrity.”
He continued, “She (Maureen) is not power-drunk but always believes in the peaceful resolution of issues. Honestly, if our (GOCOP) constitution allowed a third term, I would have sponsored Maureen because she is a responsible and reliable leader. I pray we get a successor of her calibre.”
For his part, the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Sliver News, Mr. Ignatius Chukwu, remarked: “I joined GOCOP a few years ago, and I have watched Maureen carry on with a lot of energy for welfare, ethics, and aspiration to build a body of journalists that would be different.”
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“Another amazing and unique aspect I found about our president was the day she stepped out to dance in a competition last year…”
“She also stepped in for me when my wife was critically ill last year. I will encourage her to conclude the medical scheme for GOCOP members and explore the possibility of obtaining gadgets such as recorders and laptops for members to facilitate their work,” Chukwu added.
Maureen’s colleagues on the GOCOP Executive Committee have nothing but commendations for the president.
Mallam Danlami Nmodu, the Association Deputy President and Chairman of the 2024 Conference Planning Committee, said: “Maureen is passionate about GOCOP and its members. She has been keen to ensure that things work well within the Guild. She deserves encouragement, commendation, and support.”
Another member, who wishes to remain anonymous, remarked: “Maureen would win Leadership Personality of the Year if she and her Exco members could use their good offices to procure a new bus for the Association and establish a support scheme for the families of late Guild members.”
Membership of the Guild is composed of editors and senior journalists who have distinguished themselves in the print and electronic media. It is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organisation representing the highest level of media professionals in online publishing.
Maureen, a devout Christian, loves to engage in humanitarian services and relates with others irrespective of age, gender, tribe, faith, creed, or ethnicity.
On behalf of myself, the management and staff of http://August24news.com and its sister http://YouTube channel, August24news TV, we wish Maureen success in her future endeavours after her presidency at GOCOP.
Maureen’s steadfast commitment to seeking justice and transformational changes in Nigeria’s online media is inspirational. Her work resonates with many who aspire to foster transparency and equity in society. Her voice is crucial, especially at this critical stage when quacks are striving to hijack the online publishing space in the country.
Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos Island East Council Chairman on Media and Digital Communications, a member of GOCOP, and Publisher of http://August24news.com
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