The Corporate Institute of Strategic Research has launched and named its research chair on Media and Journalism after prominent Kogi APC Chieftain Dr Tom Ohikere.
The launching and naming ceremony took place earlier today, Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Top View Hotel, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Tom Ohikere who is the current Managing Director of the APC NewsOnline is a former commissioner of information in Kogi state under both former governors Ibrahim Idris and Captain Idris Wada and was the Chairman of Good Governance for Asiwaju and Shettima 2023.
The APC NewsOnline has been on the frontline of image and perception management for the ruling party since its ascendancy on the national political scene and was especially instrumental in the party’s 2019 and 2023 electoral victory.
Speaking during the occasion, the chairman of the CIRS board of advisor, Dr Victoria Okon Ph.D said the decision to name its research chair after Dr Tom Ohikere is a testament to the brilliant and titanic contributions of Dr Ohikere to the development of the national media and knowledge landscape.
She said, “The Dr. Thomas Ohikere Research Chair represents an exceptional opportunity to immortalize a personality who has made a lasting impact in the domain of sustainable Media, Communications and Journalism.
On his part, Dr Ohikere said the decision of the institute puts it on the forefront of providing solutions to national problems using sophisticated methodologies and templates.
He said, “Misinformation is a global problem, moreso on the political scene, where we see a recurring clash of ideologies and propaganda. And this is where i believe the Thomas Ohikere Research Chair of the Corporate Institute of Strategic Research will find its relevance within the wider edifice of the Corporate Institute of Strategic Research, being an Institute committed to the development of quality leadership in research and development within the emerging global challenges.
“While Misinformation is here to stay given the nature of today’s media ecosystem, stakeholders round the world have developed models and templates for minimizing their effects on the consumption of genuine public information, Ohikere added.
Speaking further, Ohiere said the new Research chair of the CIST will establish an annual roundtable to bring together industry players in the onerous task of information management in the nation.
“It is indeed a great and unprecedented development, Kudos to this great and exceptional institute which seeks to be at the forefront of creating platforms that can create and harness ideas for providing solutions to our national problems and i believe all people of good will will be proud to be associated with such progressive initiative and innovation.
“The research chair will be a rallying point for the industry stakeholders and will also be a data bank and a reference for credible information that will help posterity and humanity.
As part of the launching ceremony, personalities at the event made huge donations to the five million Naira Research Endowment Fund for sustaining the research activities and promoting excellence in the field of Media and Journalism.