All protocol duly observed
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good morning, and a very warm welcome to each of you. It is my honour, as Chairperson of the Planning Committee, to welcome you to the 8th Annual Anniversary Lecture of Penpushing Media, here in Abeokuta. This town holds a special place in our story as the birthplace of journalism in Nigeria.
We are gathered today under the theme, “Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability.” It is difficult to imagine a more timely subject. As our nation looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, questions of electoral credibility, transparency, and accountability are on the minds of citizens across every state and every walk of life.
We could not have chosen a more fitting moment, or a more fitting voice, to lead this conversation. That voice belongs to our Keynote Speaker, Femi Falana (SAN), a legal luminary and human rights activist whose career has been defined by an unwavering commitment to justice and to the Nigerian people. We look forward to the clarity and depth he will bring to this discourse.
I must also, on behalf of the Planning Committee, extend our profound gratitude to our Chairman of the Occasion, Dr. Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, for graciously agreeing to preside over today’s proceedings. We are equally honoured by the presence of our Father of the Day, Justice Oladeinde Shoremi, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, and our Mother of the Day, Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation. Your presence lends both weight and warmth to this occasion.
To His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, Governor of Ogun State, and to all our respected traditional rulers, royal fathers, distinguished awardees, and our esteemed panellists and moderator, thank you for honouring our invitation. To the members, partners, sponsors, and friends of Penpushing Media seated here with us this morning, your continued support has carried this platform from a humble WhatsApp group in 2016 to the household name it has become today.
Penpushing Media has, over these eight years, remained faithful to a simple but urgent mission: to counter the tide of fake news and to stand as a credible source of authentic journalism, for our nation and for the world. That mission finds its clearest expression today, in a lecture series that has consistently asked our country the hard questions, on trust, on federalism, on inclusivity, and now, on the integrity of our elections.
It is worth pausing, too, on why this particular lecture series matters. Since its inception, this platform has used this occasion each year to hold up a mirror to our nation, on building trust for political and national growth, on the media’s role in peace and strong institutions, on our multi-party democracy, on inclusivity, on federalism, and now, on electoral integrity itself. Each theme has been chosen deliberately, in step with the most pressing conversation of its moment.
This year is no exception. As Nigeria looks toward the 2027 general elections, the question of whether our democracy can deliver credible outcomes and genuine accountability to the people is not an academic one; it is a question that will shape the everyday lives of Nigerians for years to come.
As we proceed with today’s programme, I invite each of you to listen, to engage, and to contribute to what I am confident will be a rich and rewarding conversation on the path to good governance and genuine public accountability in our country.
Once again, on behalf of the Planning Committee, the Editorial Board, and the entire Penpushing Media family, welcome. Thank you, and God bless us all.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Chairperson, Planning Committee
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
