The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Professor Presley Ogheneruke Obukoadata; renowned journalist and media scholar, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, PhD; and Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Gladys Imegwu, have been selected to lead discussions at the 2026 Annual Conference and 6th Lecture Series of the Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF.
The conference, scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at David’s Event Centre, Government Reservation Area, Asaba, Delta State, will focus on the theme, “Democracy Under Pressure: Electoral Integrity, Security Challenges, and Media Accountability.”
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour at the event, which will bring together media practitioners, academics, security professionals, public officials and other stakeholders to examine challenges confronting democratic governance in Nigeria.
The three panellists, drawn from academia, journalism and law enforcement, are expected to provide complementary perspectives on electoral credibility, public security, responsible journalism and institutional accountability.
Professor Obukoadata, a communication scholar and strategic communication expert, currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Brand, Strategic and Metacommunication at Southern Delta University, Ozoro. He is also Dean of the Faculty of Communication Technology and previously pioneered the university’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
With academic qualifications in Mass Communication from Delta State University, Abraka, and the University of Uyo, Obukoadata has worked at several institutions, including the University of Calabar, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, and the National Open University of Nigeria.
His research interests include strategic communication, brand management, crisis communication, media ecology, artificial intelligence, development communication and public relations. With more than 50 publications in journals, books and book chapters, he has contributed to scholarship on media innovation, digital transformation and communication in governance.
His participation is expected to bring an academic perspective to discussions on the media’s role in protecting electoral integrity, countering misinformation, promoting informed public discourse and holding public institutions accountable in an increasingly digital information environment.
Chiazor, a distinguished journalist, communication scholar, writer and media administrator popularly known as the Wordsmith, brings decades of experience in broadcasting, print journalism, newsroom management and government communication to the panel.
A graduate of English and Literature from the University of Benin, he also holds a degree in Mass Communication from Delta State University, Abraka, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
His broadcasting career included service at the former Bendel Broadcasting Service, Benin City, and the Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, where he rose to become Deputy General Manager and Head of News and Current Affairs.
He also worked as a freelance journalist with local and international media organisations, including The Guardian, National Concord, South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, The Irish Times, The Sowetan and The International Herald Tribune.
Publisher of The Nigerian Post, Chiazor served as Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council, from 2011 to 2017. His tenure featured infrastructure development and professional capacity-building initiatives, including the advancement of the NUJ Press Centre project and the training of Delta journalists at the Reuters Journalism Institute in London.
He has served as Executive Assistant on Media to former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and currently holds the same position under Governor Oborevwori.
His experience is expected to enrich discussions on media independence, professional ethics, fact-based reporting and the responsibility of online publishers to scrutinise public institutions while resisting misinformation, particularly during electoral periods.
The third panellist, CSP Gladys Imegwu, is the Officer in Charge of Legal Matters at the Delta State Police Command, a position that places her at the intersection of law enforcement, criminal investigation, legal oversight and the administration of justice.
Imegwu has emphasised the importance of professional investigative procedures, respect for due process and the protection of suspects’ rights. She has also advocated improved security manpower and operational capacity, while highlighting the need for cooperation among security agencies and justice sector institutions.
Her participation is expected to provide a law enforcement and legal perspective on the responsibilities of security agencies to protect lives and property, maintain public order, enforce the law impartially and safeguard citizens’ rights during elections.
She is also expected to contribute to discussions on relations between the police and the media, particularly the need for accurate reporting of security incidents, responsible information sharing and mutual respect for professional obligations in the interest of public safety and democratic stability.
The selection of the three panellists reflects the multidisciplinary approach required to address the pressures facing Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
As the country grapples with concerns over electoral credibility, public trust, security challenges and the growing influence of digital information, the conference is expected to provide a platform for examining how the media, security agencies and other institutions can work within their respective responsibilities to strengthen democratic accountability.
The theme also highlights the need to balance media freedom with professional responsibility, ensure that electoral information is accurate and verifiable, and promote constructive engagement between journalists and public institutions without undermining the media’s watchdog role.
The DOPF Annual Conference and Lecture Series is part of the forum’s continuing engagement with issues relating to journalism, public communication, democracy and responsible media practice.
With Governor Oborevwori expected as Special Guest of Honour and professionals from academia, journalism and law enforcement leading the panel discussion, the event is positioned to stimulate informed debate on electoral integrity, security preparedness and the media’s role in strengthening democratic governance.
