Thousands of social media users on Thursday stormed the second edition of the Delta Social Media Summit organized by the Senior Special Assistant to Delta state governor on media, Ossai Ovie Success. The event was held on Thursday at the Mariam Babangida Leisure Park Asaba.
The Delta State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during the summit urged media practitioners to always verify their reports and contents before pushing them out to the public.
Oborevwori acknowledged the enormous power of the social media, which no one would want to undermine, noting that despite the criticisms that trialed the social media, they had continued to grow, making them platforms that must be watched closely and attentively.
The Governor represented by the Chief of Staff Prince Johnson Erijo promised to continue with his open-door approach to governance, stressing that his administration was determined to improve the living condition of the people, upgrade and build new infrastructure, reach out to the youths, as well as ensure, equity and fairness to all.
Oborevwori described the theme of the summit: “Harnessing the Power of the Social Media”, as apt considering the fact that their advent had revolutionized the entire gamot of mass communication, leaving the traditional media largely overwhelmed.
Earlier, the host Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Media, Mr Ossai Ovie Success, said the summit was intended to expose the younger generation, especially the youths of Delta State, to the numerous opportunities that abound in the social media space and how they could utilize them to their benefit.
Ossai commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for giving approval for the summit and for his administration’s job and wealth creation programmes aimed at meaningfully engaging the youths, and urged the participants to take the programme seriously.
The event drew participants from different parts of the state who attended to draw some vital lessons on use of the social media, its benefits and its implications if used to pursue negative agenda.
The event, which was attended by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Rt Hon Emomutimi Guwor represented by member of the Delta State House of Assembly Hon Perkins Umukoro, Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon Emmanuel Osezuwa, a former Secretary to the State Government, Hon Festus Agas, Commissioner for Urban Renewal Engr Michael Anoka , Commissioner for Enviroment Hon Jamani Ejiro , Commissioner for Science and Technology Hon. (Dr) Odinigwe Daniel Odigie , Commissioner for youth Hon Thankgod Harry Trakiriowei , Political appointees , Religious Leaders among others, featured keynote sessions, panel sessions, lectures on social media monetization, content creation, video editing for social media, exhibition, networking and business talks.
Real warri Pikin , Founder Cleverminds Educational Foundation, Mr Zion Oshiobugie, Confusion Twins, Human Rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, Police PPRO , Delta Command SP. Bright Edafe, The Village Teacher Teacher Chike and EVELYN ONYIAIKE ( De Fabric Boss) as guest speakers who trained the youths urged them to continue being good ambassadors of the state by deploying the social media to make the world better for themselves and the general society.
Real Warri Pikin during the ceremony awarded scholarship to Success Adegor and also One million Naira including other money donated by the host and the organizers .
Ossai Ovie Success who is the convener of the Delta social media summit gained prominence through the influence of the social media. His deals with the state government today came about through the positive use of the social media.
It was revealed that prior to the emergence of former governor Ifeanyi Okowa who brought Ossai to limelight, he was involved in promoting Okowa’s agenda believing the former governor had the best agenda for the people of Delta among all the people contesting for governorship then back in 2014.
Arising from his positive use of the social media, he won the admiration of the former governor who gave him appointment then as personal assistant in the first tenure.
In the second tenure, he was appointed special assistant on media. And in the current government, he is serving as senior special assistant on media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Therefore, his championing of the Delta Social Media Summit is a function of his clear understanding of the power and the influence of the various social media platforms.
Currently, he has one of the largest social media following among all the aides of the governor of the state and possibly social media influencers who are based in the state.
