My Mission For Penpushing Platform, Founder

Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji is a journalist of repute and currently on the job for over two decades. He has also won various awards in journalism,and first journalist to be personally hosted with sponsored birthday party  by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The penpusher as fondly called in the media world,has just added another innovation to news dissemination and analysis, with the establishment of a social media known as penpushing platform.

‎In an interview, the founder who is a graduate of Nigeria Institute of Journalism(NIJ),Lagos and also a product of Ogun State Polytechnic,(now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic),Abeokuta,Ogun State Capital where he read Public Administration said Pen Pushing platform on whassap was created for the dissemination of news and analysis of topical issues across the globe.

Born  over 50 years ago to the Risawe ruling house,Ilesa town in South-West of Nigeria,he said his passion for journalism knew no bound,hence his creation of the platform as his own contribution towards positive growth of the profession.

‎\’I am a passionate journalist. Well, one of the things that motivated me to choose journalism as a career was my inbuilt attributes.‎ During my secondary school days, I cherished writing\’,he said.

\’Inbuilt in the sense that while I was in secondary school, I developed a unique flair for writing and I recalled that during our free periods, we acted like professionals of different fields of human endeavour. More often than not, I would stand in front of my peers to pass  information across\’,Kayode-Adedeji explained

\’Within this period, I also recall that I used part of my pocket money given to me by parents to purchase newspapers regularly. These are some of the things that placed my foot firmly on the path of journalism\’.

\’At a point in time, I started writing open  letters to the editors of newspapers  for publication in national dailies. I focused my attention on areas that government failed to pay attention to. Fortunately for me, some of the letters were used in the defunct Sketch newspaper. Anytime I read about it, I got motivated to do more\’.

\’Afterward, I started cutting out my published write-ups. Later on, I applied to the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos to study journalism. Prior to my application, I read the advert on the page of a newspaper as I was already conversant with newspapers. I picked up the form, filled it and clipped photocopies of the cuttings of my published write-ups to the form. Then, I didn’t know anybody. In Nigeria, before you can get admission, you must know someone influential in the society to get admitted\’.

\’ In my case, I didn’t know anybody. All I did was applying and attached my published materials with the form.However, days after I had submitted my application, a postmaster walked up to my apartment with a parcel addressed to me. When I opened it, I discovered that it was an admission letter sent from Nigerian Institute of Journalism(NIJ). I was equally impressed as I later realised that,those newspaper cuttings served as stepping stones in getting me admitted into NIJ\’.

\’I would say journalism is something that is in my blood. Actually, my admission into NIJ kick started my foray into journalism. When I eat, sleep and breathe, they portray journalism. In summary, journalism is something that I love with passion. It is a profession that I cherish so much that if I come back to this world, I will still prefer to practise journalism\’,the penpusher declared.

On his journalism experience he disclosed that,he has spent over two decades and worked as newspaper reporter in number of print media in his career,stating that some of the newspapers include;Daily Times,Daily Skecth, Monitor Newspapers,Searchlight Newspapers Republic Newspapers,National Interest Newspapers, Third Eye Newspapers, Next Newspapers, Post Express Newspapers, The Union Newspapers and Leadership Newspapers,while presently as at the time of this interview write for Premium Times, an online medium. \’So far so good, I have no regrets venturing into journalism\’.

Also on his contributions to Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ),Kayode-Adedeji, a one time award winner of Best Journalist in Ogun State, and also UNFPA award winner among other laurels,said he has served in various capacities of the union and attained executive membership of Central Working Committe(CWC),highest ruling body of the union.

\’Well, I have served in various capacities from the chapel to the national level. I was once an Assistant Secretary of Ogun State Correspondents Chapel. I also served as the Treasurer of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter. I was a  Zonal Secretary of the NUJ,(South-West) which made me a member of the Central Working Committee at a point in time\’,he stated

He also spoke on his project, penpushing platform which has now become a household name globally, explaining that what influenced the creation was to serve as avenue to get and read authentic news,contrary to speculations and rumour which almost turning to menace in journalism world

\’Let me start from the point that all journalists are penpushers. Due to the love that I have for the profession, I started addressing myself as a pen pusher. I have been doing this for more than 20years. At my residence, it is boldly inscribed there. The sticker, ‘pen pusher’ is also pasted on my cars. I did these to promote journalism as a profession, because, anywhere I go, I want everybody to know that this person is a journalist/pen pusher because of the passion that I have for the job. I don’t regret it\’.

\’It’s not a profession that I can hide away from. That’s why I made the name pen pusher very popular. In Nigeria today, I was the person that made the name pen pusher very popular. Having said that, I woke up on my birthday, July 19, 2016, ruminating extensively over unconfirmed reports,speculations and rumour flying about. Then,I began to think of contributing my quota to the journalism development,and  being a journalist by making authentic news available to the people, I decided to set up a social media platform, a Whatsapp group to provide people with confirmed, authentic reports across the globe\’.

\’The platform is not only for journalists alone. I also involved other professionals because as journalists, we cannot know everything about all the professions in the world.I looked inward to search for a name for the platform. Then, the name ‘pen pusher’ struck my mind. As a journalist, you are a pen pusher. The act itself is pen pushing. You must be involved in pen pushing before you can be called a pen pusher. Then, I named the platform, ‘Pen Pushing’. The icon equally reflected that the platform was created to promote journalism\’.

\’Upon creation of the group, I rolled out the aims and objectives for the establishment of the group,as well as rules and regulations. I stated clearly that information to be posted on the platform must be credible and have a source.The Pen Pushers and other various professionals as members include; Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Ibikunle Amosun(Ogun State Governor),Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin

The platform also has Ministers, Ambassadors,Special Assistants on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Medical Doctors,Lawyers,Nurses, Pharmacists, Engineers,Politicians and clerics among others

Others are; Managing Director Krestal Laurel, Engr Dideolu Falobi,  Olooye Lekan Alabi, Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello, Benjamin Ogunmodede, Prof Tope Popoola,Olusesan Ekisola, Femi Shodunke, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Prof Idowu Sobowale, Senator Gbenga Obadara,Salimot Badru(former Deputy Governor), Segun Adesegun(former Deputy Governor),Doyin Ogunbiyi,Sarafa Ishola(former Minister),Gboyega Isiaka, Rotimi Paseda,Lanre Majekodunmi

Also,on the platform are ;Rev Lawrence  Achudume, Pastor Olusesi Obateye,  Ify Omowale (National President,Nigeria Association of Women Journalists),Gbenga Onayiga and  Mrs  Baliqis Oladimeji(Deputy President,NAWOJ) .

Others are; Eddy Aina (former Director,National Broadcasting Corporation), Prof Yemisi Obilade (Vice-Chancellor,Tai Solarin University of Education) Dupe Osikolu(Publisher) ,Funke Fadugba(former Chairman,Nigeria Union of Journalists,Lagos State Council),Iyabo Apampa, Yetunde Kujore, Demola Badejo(former Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists,Ogun State Council),Leman Usman Shuiab(National Secretary,Nigeria Union of Journalists),Folu Olamiti, Lanre Ogundipe(former President,Nigeria Union of Journalists)

Also we  have Dele Odule(Veteran Movie Actor) Bolaji Amusan(Mr Latin),Yinka Odumakin, Dr  Joe Odumakin,Kabiyesi Olufemi Ogunleye,Toyin Ogunbotimehin and Prince Idowu Kayode-Adedeji.

\’We  equally  have seasoned journalist, Dr. Sulaiman Osho, Yusuph Olaniyonu,  Seye Kehinde, publisher of City People magazine and Dipo Kehinde, and other  publishers as members too. On the platform, we have some medical doctors too. We have participants from different continents including Asia, Africa, Europe and America. I am not the only person that posts stories on the platform. Other participants do that as well,but the rule is that,it must be credible with source\’.

He said through the platform, participants have the opportunity of knowing what is going on globally as it occured,disclosing that over 250 participants are on the platform as at today,\’and I still have requests from people who want to join the platform\’.

\’Basically, I ensure that I monitor the platform well to ensure that participants’ personalities are not abused. It is a platform that everybody wants to join. You get breaking news through the platform. Jokingly, one of the participants gave me the title, Mopol administrator due to persistent scrutinizing of activities on the platform\’.

On achievements recorded within the last six months of operations, the initiator, said it has been serving some electronic media, to get breaking news for their news package, and pick number of members,as guests for their stations various programme, while the platform has also connected number of people for good. He added that major breakthrough was the discovery of 29 year old Nigerian, Toyosi Craig, a genius engineer making wave in South Africa.

\’Through the platform, people have been able to know one and other and connect for good.The platform is like a family affair. Six months after, nobody has ever lamented or regretted being a member of that group. We were able to discover Toyosi Craig, a young talented engineer in his 20s. Unfortunately, he wasn’t reckoned with here in Nigeria. Now, he is doing well in South Africa. Through the platform, he had the opportunity to relate with the elders on the platform. His issue was discussed here and that led to his breakthrough. He was a guest of former President Olusegun Obasanjo courtesy of penpushing platform. These are some of our achievements\’.

On next level of the platform,the initiator disclosed that, there will be a public lecture when it attained one year by July, stressing that,thereafter there would always be an annual lecture

\’By one year, Pen pushing will be celebrated in a big way with God grace.There will be a Public Lecture in commemoration of its one year anniversary. Afterward, it will be an annual event. The event will allow participants to relate and rub minds together for our society to progress further. We will continue to update people with genuine news from all corners of the world.