Members of Gateway Bloggers on Wednesday paid a familiarisation visit to the Ogun State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Jamiu Akande Omoniyi Jagunmolu, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, as part of efforts to strengthen engagement between digital media practitioners and public officials in the state.

The delegation was led by the group’s State Coordinator, Comrade Olamide David, alongside members of the state executive council and other members of the organisation. During the visit, the group commended the Commissioner for what it described as his contributions to housing delivery and youth development across Ogun State.

Receiving the delegation, Hon. Jagunmolu welcomed the growing role of bloggers and online publishers in shaping public conversations, but stressed that the influence of digital media must be matched with a strong commitment to accuracy and professional conduct.

The Commissioner shared a personal experience of how careless reporting had once affected him after a blogger mistakenly used his photograph in place of another person’s image. According to him, the post quickly gained attention online and created a false impression about his identity and involvement in the issue being reported.

He explained that the incident demonstrated how a seemingly small error could damage a person’s reputation, mislead the public and spread rapidly across social media before the truth was established. Drawing from that experience, Jagunmolu urged members of Gateway Bloggers to verify information, use appropriate images and ensure that their reports meet acceptable ethical standards before publication.

He reminded the delegation that digital publishers have a responsibility not only to attract readers but also to protect the credibility of the profession. The Commissioner therefore charged members of the group to lead by example, stressing that meaningful reform within the blogging industry must begin with practitioners themselves.

“Change begins with us,” he said, while encouraging the bloggers to build a media culture founded on truth, fairness and accountability.

Responding on behalf of the group, members of Gateway Bloggers reaffirmed their commitment to responsible journalism and ethical blogging. The delegation said the organisation was determined to contribute positively to Ogun State’s digital media space by promoting professionalism and discouraging practices that undermine public trust.

“We believe we can be the change the blogging profession needs, and we are committed to that cause,” the group stated.

The visit also provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss the importance of maintaining constructive relationships between government institutions and independent digital media platforms. Such engagement, the group noted, can improve access to credible information while allowing public officials to communicate their programmes and policies more effectively.

Gateway Bloggers has continued to position itself as a network of digital media practitioners committed to strengthening the quality of online reporting in Ogun State. The meeting with the Housing Commissioner forms part of the group’s efforts to build partnerships, promote media responsibility and encourage greater professionalism among bloggers operating across the state.