Former Governor Ibikunle Amosun Accepts to Headline 6th Penpushing Media Anniversary Lecture

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde

Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has accepted the role of Chairman for the 6th anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media, which is scheduled to hold on July 25, 2024, at the New Marque Events Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that In His acceptance letter received by Penpushing Medis on June 20, Amosun personally signed the invitation letter and expressed his gratitude to the organization for the sincerest invitation.

Amosun, a recipient of the National Award, of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), congratulated Penpushing Media on their anniversary and annual lecture, assuring them his attendance. 

He wrote, "I congratulate the Editorial Board, Management, and Staff of Penpushing Media on your anniversary and the 6th annual lecture scheduled for Thursday, July 25, 2024."

"I thank the Editorial Board for inviting me to be the Chairman of the 6th Anniversary Lecture. I wish Penpushing Media a successful anniversary." 

The Planning Committee for the 6th annual anniversary lecture, chaired by Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, announced the date of the event in an earlier statement.

Dr. Afolabi, the Chairperson of the planning committee, announced to journalists that the theme for the year’s edition is “National Balance-Infrastructure Capacity, Diversity as Tools for Building Blocks and Good Governance.” 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija gathered that the event, designed to be both educative and a contribution to social growth, will take place at the New Marque Events Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), located along Presidential Boulevard in Abeokuta.

The planning committee has begun preparations for the event and will continue to raise public awareness about the importance of the lecture for good governance. Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi mentioned that the committee has started reaching out to members of the Penpushing platform and other stakeholders to ensure a successful event, expressing optimism about the outcome.

It was noted that further details about the event, including the identities and roles of participating personalities, will be made public in due course. The Chairperson also recalled that previous anniversary lectures have demonstrated the significance of Penpushing Media, not only in the field of journalism globally but also in its impact on society.

Afolabi emphasized that Penpushing Media has been robustly nurtured on the journalistic ideology of adding value to journalism worldwide by ensuring credible sources of news. 

She noted that the inaugural annual lecture in 2017 had the theme “Social Media: Building Parameters for Trust to Achieve Political and National Growth, following that the guest lecturer was the late former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, which the event was chaired by journalism icon Prof. Idowu Sobowale, with the late Kabiyesi Olufemi Ogunleye of Akinale in Owu Kingdom serving as the Royal Father of the Day. The wives of former President Mrs. Bola Obasanjo and the late Iyalode of Yorubaland Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson were the Mothers of the Day.

She continued, stating that the second anniversary lecture took place on July 19, 2018, with the theme “The Media and Quest for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,” and featured Mr. Ronald Kayanja, Country Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, as the guest lecturer.

The third annual lecture, held on July 19, 2019, was themed “The Nigerian State, Political Evolution, and Multi-party Democracy: Education to the Rescue” and was delivered by Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, Former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education.

Afolabi recalled that the 4th edition of the lecture was held on July 21, 2022, with the theme “Social Media Regulation: Insecurity and Elections Accountability in Nigeria.” The lecture was delivered by Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, the West Africa Director of the Ford Foundation, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, served as the royal father of the day, and His Excellency Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was the Chairman.

The 5th edition, held on July 25, 2023, focused on the theme “Burden of Inclusivity and Nigeria’s Democracy.” The lecture was presented by Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, the Former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), with Chief Olusegun Osoba, Former Governor of Ogun State and a journalism icon, serving as the Chairman.

Afolabi also noted that Penpushing, a renowned global news dissemination platform, received its certificate of registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on June 1, 2017. 

Its corporate headquarters are located at the Leme axis of Moshood Abiola Way in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Other members of the vibrant standing committee include Sina Adefolahan (Secretary), Toyin Ogunbomehin, Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, Yemisi Fadairo, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, and Hon. Remmy Hazzan.