Members of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Abia State Chapter, on Friday presented a Patron Award plaque to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, in recognition of his outstanding support for the association.
Presenting the plaque, the Abia State Chairman of OMPAN, Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro, said the Deputy Speaker was selected alongside ten other eminent Abians to be unveiled as patrons of the association due to his consistent contributions to the growth and progress of the union.
Chief Okoro recalled that the Deputy Speaker was formally unveiled as a Patron during the association’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on December 12, 2025, but was unavoidably absent at the event.
“You will recall that during our 3rd Annual General Meeting on December 12, 2025, we unveiled our Patrons, and the Deputy Speaker was among them. Unfortunately, he was not available to attend the event, and that is why we are here today to formally present the plaque,” he said.
He further appreciated the Deputy Speaker for his instrumental role in ensuring that OMPAN Abia State now has a physical office, describing the gesture as a landmark achievement for the association.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of OMPAN, Mazi Ugochukwu Nwankwo, said that if there were a higher honour than the Patron Award, the association would have gladly bestowed it on the Deputy Speaker, whom he described as the strongest supporter of OMPAN.
While receiving the plaque, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu expressed gratitude to the association for finding him worthy of the honour. He advised members to expand their blogging focus beyond politics to include economic development, humanity, and other sectors that positively impact society.
The Deputy Speaker commended OMPAN for recognizing the future of media by coming together under a unified online platform and assured the association of his continued support.
He also urged members to remain professional and non-partisan, cautioning them against allowing themselves to be used as tools to attack or undermine individuals or institutions.
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