Osogbo, July 24, 2025 — In a bold move to tackle the deepening economic challenges confronting digital journalism, the Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA), under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Mukhtar Ajelogbon, convened a landmark Digital Media Workshop on Thursday. Held under the theme, “Beyond the Story: The Economics of Press Freedom in the Digital Media Space,” the workshop was a strategic initiative to empower local media professionals with the tools, insight, and financial literacy essential for survival and sustainability in the evolving media landscape.
Delivering his opening remarks, Mr. Ajelogbon emphasized that the workshop was not just another training event, but a critical step in OOPA’s broader mission to reposition community journalism, deepen press freedom, and strengthen the economic resilience of media practitioners across Osun State and beyond.
“This is not just about storytelling,” he declared. “It is about sustaining the storyteller.”
According to him, journalists must be equipped not only with ethical principles and digital tools but also with an understanding of monetization models and economic opportunities that ensure long-term viability in an increasingly competitive and constrained media economy.
“As media professionals continue to navigate a landscape marked by economic constraints and ethical challenges, this workshop is designed to serve as a catalyst for innovation, transformation, and financial empowerment,” the chairman noted.
ROYAL PRESENCE AND PATRONAGE
The workshop was further dignified by the arrival of the royal father and Patron of OOPA, His Royal Majesty, Oba Hammed Adekunle Oyelude Makama, CON, the Olowu of Kuta. As the monarch entered the hall during a brief intermission, the atmosphere became electric with applause and admiration. Master of Ceremony, Abioye Tosin Lawrence, delivered a poetic and rhythmic royal citation that captivated the audience:
“From the royal throne of wisdom and valor,
From the land where history and heritage kiss the sky,
He walks with grace, crowned in truth and tradition,
A father to many, a voice of vision.”
Oba Makama, visibly impressed by the organization’s progress, commended OOPA for its commitment to professional development. He reaffirmed his pride in being associated with the association and issued a passionate call for the protection of traditional institutions from political manipulation.
“Whichever office a politician holds is transient and has a terminal date. Our sons and daughters in positions of political leadership must work to strengthen, not politicize our traditional institutions,” he said.
IMPACTFUL FACILITATION AND DEEP INSIGHT
One of the major highlights of the workshop was the virtual session led by Mr. Adejumo Kabir, an investigative journalist and media development advocate. Mr. Kabir delivered a high-level presentation that offered participants critical tools for improving their reportage, digital skills, and audience engagement.
He charged attendees to take responsibility for updating their knowledge and broadening their media literacy, especially in an era where misinformation thrives and professional ethics are often under pressure.
Additionally, the monetization segment of the workshop, delivered in both practical and theoretical formats, equipped participants with real-time strategies to generate income, remain financially independent, and navigate the harsh realities of today’s media economy.
APPRECIATIONS AND A CALL TO ACTION
The OOPA Chairman expressed heartfelt appreciation to the association’s Patron, Matron Mrs. Funmi Abokede, General Manager of Osun Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), and the workshop planning committee led by Comrade Abioye Tosin Lawrence of Oriontimes News, for their unwavering support and commitment to the event’s success.
“Your kindness, resources, and moral support have made today a reality. May your desires be fulfilled,” Mr. Ajelogbon prayed on behalf of the association.
In his closing remarks, he reaffirmed OOPA’s resolve to implement actionable ideas gathered during the training, assuring participants that the association will continue to raise the bar of excellence and push for media reform and empowerment in Osun State.
“We will not only report the story; we will defend the rights of those who report it. Because freedom without economic strength is fiction,” he concluded.
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