Events

Agbakoba to Chair GOCOP Forum on Transparency Before 2027 Elections

Published

1 month ago

July 21, 2026

Olisa Agbakoba GOCOP 2026 Conference will focus on trust, transparency and shared responsibilities ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has accepted an invitation to chair the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), which will take place in Lagos on October 8, 2026, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The announcement was made on Monday by the Chairman of the 2026 Conference Planning Committee, Mr Olumide Iyanda, in a statement issued by GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Ms Kemi Yesufu.

The conference is themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities”, reflecting growing national conversations around electoral credibility as political activities intensify before the next general election.

Iyanda said the event would bring together policymakers, political leaders, journalists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to examine how collective action can reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“The conference will provide a platform for thoughtful engagement on how government, political actors, the media and civil society can work together to promote transparency and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process,” Iyanda said.

He described Agbakoba as an outstanding choice to chair the landmark event, citing the Senior Advocate of Nigeria’s decades of contributions to constitutional democracy, legal reform and good governance.

According to Iyanda, Agbakoba’s reputation as a respected lawyer, public intellectual and advocate for institutional reforms positions him to guide conversations on accountability, transparency and democratic development at a crucial period in Nigeria’s political calendar.

The conference also marks a significant milestone as the 10th edition of GOCOP’s annual gathering, which has evolved into one of Nigeria’s leading forums for discussions on governance, public policy, media practice and national development.

Founded to promote professionalism, ethical standards and credibility in digital journalism, GOCOP currently comprises 127 online publishing organisations.

Its membership includes editors and senior journalists who built distinguished careers in print and broadcast journalism before establishing independent online news platforms.

Over the past decade, the Guild has consistently used its annual conference to stimulate policy debates on issues affecting governance, the economy, security, media regulation and democratic accountability.

Previous editions have attracted senior government officials, legal practitioners, academics, diplomats and media executives, reinforcing the conference’s reputation as an influential platform for public discourse.

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The choice of Agbakoba to chair this year’s event comes as Nigeria prepares for another election cycle, with increasing calls for transparent institutions, responsible political leadership and a vibrant media capable of sustaining public trust in the democratic process.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

4 days ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

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Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”