OMPAN Honours Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu with Patron Award Plaque

The Abia State Chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) 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 and contributions to the association.

Presenting the plaque, the Abia State Chairman of OMPAN, Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro, explained that the Deputy Speaker was selected alongside ten other distinguished Abians to serve as patrons of the association due to his consistent commitment to the growth and development of the union.

Chief Okoro recalled that Rt. Hon. Kalu was officially unveiled as a Patron during the association’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on December 12, 2025, but was unable to attend the event at the time.

“During our 3rd Annual General Meeting on December 12, 2025, we unveiled our patrons, and the Deputy Speaker was among those honoured. Unfortunately, he was unavoidably absent, which is why we are here today to formally present the plaque,” he said.

He further commended the Deputy Speaker for his instrumental role in ensuring that OMPAN Abia State now has a physical office, describing the gesture as a major milestone in the association’s history.

Also speaking, the Chairman of OMPAN’s Board of Trustees, Mazi Ugochukwu Nwankwo, noted that if there were a higher honour than the Patron Award, the association would have gladly conferred it on Rt. Hon. Kalu, whom he described as the strongest supporter of OMPAN.

In his response, the Deputy Speaker expressed appreciation to the association for the recognition and pledged his continued support. He advised members to broaden their blogging focus beyond politics to include economic development, humanitarian issues, and other sectors that positively impact society.

Rt. Hon. Kalu commended OMPAN for embracing the future of media by uniting under a common online platform and encouraged members to remain professional and non-partisan in their practice.

He cautioned practitioners against allowing themselves to be used as tools to attack or undermine individuals or institutions, stressing the importance of responsible and ethical journalism.