The Management and Editorial Board of Penpushing Media and the anniversary committee have received consent of four intellects to serve as panelists at the 8th edition of annual lecture of the organisation scheduled to hold July 23, 2026 at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.
The panelists include Prof. Babatunde Ekanola, acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, who specialises in the areas of Ethics and Social and Political Philosophy, with emphasis on issues relating to peace and social development in Africa.
Ekanola, with over 60 publications consisting of edited books, chapters in books, and journal articles, has served as a resource person or keynote speaker at several academic workshops and conferences within and outside Nigeria, including programmes and projects sponsored by organisations such as the World Bank, USAID, UNESCO, AHP, and ARUA.
He has served on the editorial board of Philosophia Africana, a journal published at the Department of Philosophy, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, as well as an external examiner and professorial assessor at several universities
The Professor of Philosophy was a visiting scholar at the John and Elnora Fergusson Centre for African Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom in 2010 and several universities in Nigeria at different times, including the National Universities Commission.
He was Residency Director for the African Humanities Programme in the University of Ibadan and an adjunct researcher at the Research Centre for China-Africa Education cooperation, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice. He is also a Member of the National Institute.
Another panelist, Wemimo Obiwale Adewuni, is an afrocentric media, communications, and public relations consultant, public speaker, as well as women’s rights and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocate.
Adewuni’s 15-year career includes roles such as Breakfast show Producer and Co‑Anchor at Nigeria Info 99.3 FM Lagos after working at Radio One 103.5 FM, also in Lagos, and equally worked as the Media and Communications Manager for Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), and a rich array of Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs).
The panelist is a Fellow of the Margaret Ekpo Youth Fellowship (YouthHub Africa), a Fellow of the Female Reporters’ Leadership Programme of Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited, and made the shortlist of the BBC KOMLA Dumor award in 2018.
With a degree in English Language and Masters in Public and International Affairs, she is a Women’s Rights Advocate, passionate about gender equality in healthcare, politics, economy and access to opportunities, and passionate about retelling stories about and from Africa, repositioning perceptions about Africa through public relations and strategic communication.
The female panelist worked as Senior Editor, Advocacy and Gender Issues, telling stories of underreported minorities.
She was also the host of Table Talk, a weekly talk show on Nigeria’s most trusted News, Talk and Sports station – Nigeria Info 99.3fm, Lagos.
She has also worked as Senior Programmes Officer for the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism.
She’s the founder of MEDRIVE, a media hub that trains and mentors’ journalists on impact journalism, fact-checking, grant writing, storytelling, and personal branding.
To date, MEDRIVE has trained over 150 journalists.
The journalist is the Founder of Clove Red Media, an afrocentric PR and Publicist agency redirecting visibility to African professionals, organisations and institutions, and the Convener of Spark Conference: Africa Unfolds, while the inaugural edition brought together 230 students of the University of Lagos for a life-transforming mentoring opportunity with international Nigerian journalists and media communicators.
On his part, Sulaimon Olawale Arigbabu has worked in the development sector for nearly three decades with experience across human rights, environmental justice, food security, climate change, electoral and constitutional reforms, and economic justice issues.
Arigbabu has robust skills in policy design, advocacy, and campaigns at all levels of governance and civic engagement.
The human rights activist co-founded HEDA Resource Centre in 2001 and he currently heads the environment and sustainable development programme department of the organisation, and was a member, Governing Council of Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET).
He was also a former National Executive Member of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).
He is currently a member of the Steering Committee of the Lagos State Resilience Office and a Non-Governmental (NGO) Designated Contact Person to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The panelist is a public policy analyst with significant features in both electronic and print media, who has received training in: Lagos State University, Ojo; University of Lagos, Akoka; Institute of Social Studies (Hague), Wergeningen University, Netherlands; and Makarere University in Uganda.
He is a fellow of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme, the Forum of Federations, Canada as well as the United States of America Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
On Stella Sawyerr, she is a renowned journalist with over three decades experience and was Associate Editor of Tell Communications Limited, and currently Head, Public Relations, Apple and Pears Limited, as well as Treasurer, Ogun State Chapter of the League of Veteran Journalists
The media and public relations guru is an innovative leader with over 20 years of delivering exceptional marketing campaigns, deepening partnerships, and implementing established and innovative strategies to drive the company’s growth and make a lasting impact on company and customer success.
Sawyerr was former Corporate Affairs Sustainability Manager International Breweries PLC, Assistant Registrar Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, a result-oriented and collaborative professional, bringing expertise in brand management and social media engagement.
The award-winning media practitioner is a product of Lagos State University (Communications Studies), Ogun State Polytechnic (Mass Communication), and Auchi Polytechnic (Mass Communication)
Some of her awards include Chevron Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the year (2014), Agricultural Reporter of the Year (2013), Agricultural Reporter of the Year (2012), Nigerite prize for Real Estate Reporter of the Year (2012), Agricultural Reporter of the Year (2011),BAT price for Industry Reporter of the Year (2011), Beatrice Bassey’s price for Female Reporter (2008), and Guardian Newspaper price for Investigative Reporter (2005).
The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, in a statement said the four cerebral Nigerians in their individual responses to invitation extended to them by the management of Penpushing Media, owner of an online newspaper and television, wholeheartedly agreed, declared their acceptance, and equally recognised the relevance of the organisation in the media industry
