Saraki Commends Penpushing Platform for its Contribution to Nation Building
The Senate President,Bukola Saraki has embraced penpushing platform as most reliable social media globally,admitting that it has remained a tool which put leaders in government on their toes,to checkmate any illegality and excesses.
He made this known in his goodwill message at the maiden public lecture titled,’ Building Parameters for Trust to Achieve Political and National Growth’ organised by penpushing,a social media platform,held at marquee events centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta.
Saraki congratulated the founder, members of the anniversary committee and members of the platform for creating a major avenue for exchange of information, analysis and debate on national and international issues.
The Senate President further in his speech said he believes we need more of such platforms because it is always better to discuss than to fight.
‘From exchange of information, people get enlightened and platforms like yours keep those of us in top government positions on our toes’,he stated.
‘We always remember what people on discussion and news groups will say about our actions, utterances and attitude. And that serves as a constant check on us. You are definitely contributing a lot to deepening our democracy and improving governance’
The guest lecturer,Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe said social media can turn around the world for better, contrary to believe that, it is a menace to developmenta growth.
Ibidapo-Obe, who was a two time Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, declared that the social media has come to stay and there was nothing that could be done until something else replaced it.
He also called for a purgatory where where all information would be tested, purged and sieved forauthenticity, accuracy and truth, before being circulated,stressing that the social media should be free of ‘cut and paste’ messages whose veracity and authenticity had not been confirmed.
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof Idowu Sobowale, said the social media has become a major source of information but also lamented that some people have taken to the platform to settle scores.
Sobowale,a journalism icon noted that the advantages of the social media far outweighed its disadvantages,stating that the platform had helped to unearth societal ills, fight corruption and injustices.
In his own remark, the Special Host of the occassion, Governor Ibikunle Amosun called for the establishment of an agency that will vet the information meant for the social media before they are released for public consumption.
He admitted that the social media had its advantages, but ,however, noted that the platform had also been subjected to abuse and misuse by unscrupulous people to settle scores, damage reputations of individuals and organisations.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, likened the social media to a ‘weapon of mass destruction,’ adding if left unchecked, it could wreck far reaching damage on the society, community, organisations and a nation.
Amosun urged the users of social media, particularly the youth, to use it to enhance self development, foster harmony, and unity, as opposed to using it for negative purposes.
Earlier in his welcome address, founder of the platform, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji gave insight to how the creation came into being,explaining that it was an instinct that he should look inward on how to address threat journalism is facing with invension of social media.
Kayode-Adedeji,Ogun State Correspondent of Premium Times said the platform which parades 256 membership which include various professionals across the globe has obtained it’s certificate of registration from Corporate Affairs Commission,CAC, on June 1
’The platform idea was robustly nurtured through the journalistic ideology of the need for credible sources of news for our participants’,the former zonal secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ said.
‘Please, permit me to inform you that this platform, which parades high caliber of personalities across the globe and has no fewer than 256 members as at today, was also designed and created to add value to journalism worldwide, particularly our dear country, Nigeria’,he stated.
Meanwhile,some notable dignatories at the ceremony include; wife of former President, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Kabiyesi Olufemi Ogunleye, Iyalode of Yorubaland,Chief(Mrs) Alaba Lawson, Rev Lawrence Achudume, Oloye Lekan Alabi,Dr Niran Malaolu, Lanre Ogundipe,Prof Tope Popoola and Barrister Benjamin Ogunmodede among others
