By Bassey Ekaette

A popular News guru, a media practitioner, a blogger and a radio personnel Tijani Kazeem Olalekan fondly refereed to as Mr Pepperony and TJ as his stage name is the man behind the popular website called Pepperedgist dicleared in an interview with Vanguard correspondent his intention of taking blogging to another level, creating it to be a site to explore, listening to music and reading current news and chatting with loved ones at d same time. According to him…. The idea is to have different people in one place enjoying index entertainment “

Q- Can you tell us the man behind the popular peppergist website

I’m Tijani Kazeem Olalekan, from Ogun state, born in Mushin but grew up in Festac town, Lagos.

I attended Foremost Comprehensive College and graduated from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Marketing. I also picked up a course online which made me a qualified Data analyst and web development today.

Q- how did you find your way into the media house?

To be honest, i just like moving forward, like i said before, i read marketing but then i went for different online courses that has to do with media.
My coming into the media house wasn’t coincidence, i had always loved to write and make research on stories to get facts. So i became a blogger to entertain the people with all kinds of news, that was what gave birth to my blog website Peppergist and my online Radio station PGFM. Right now I’m working with Vanguard media as a data analyst.

Q…Now we can call you a news guru, a blogger and a Radio entertainer… tell us how you got here

It’s obviously part of moving forward, a blogger and a radio personnel, its more than just a career, its a future. I like blogging, i enjoy making research, its part of me. The radio part came in suddenly and I’m so loving it.

Q… What or who inspired you to becoming a blogger?

Blogging has been part of me long time ago like i said before, and then when i was searching for a job, i decided to start writing professionally but didnt have enough materials to make my dreams come through such as laptop, smartphone and other things. I wasn’t inspired by anyone to be honest, i just like it and I’m doing it, it makes me fulfilled.

Q- Tell us about Pepperedgist and PGFM

The name Pepperedgist is a blog i started 6 years ago with embedded online radio station plus news and forums. The idea is to have different people in one place. You can always read different news or articles at the same time listening to radio without leaving the platform. It also has a built-in forum to chat with people online…Pepperedgist is more than a just blog.

Q- Tell us the features in the blog

Pepperedgist is a full package, its a platform where u can sit back and enjoy news in entertainment, sport, politics, crypto news, technology, Newspaper headlines, event ticketing, traveling aids, downloads of both movies and music, radio and a whole lot.

Q- which other profession would you have gone into baside blogging?

I would have gone into Music, i would have been among the popular musicians.

Q- interesting, so tell us, have u been singing before now?

Yes, in my room (smiles)

Q- How are you coping with your Job in Vanguard media as a data analyst and your personall blogging things?

Well to be honest, its not been easy bcos i wouldn’t want any of it to affect the other, so i give extra time not minding the stress.

Q- do you have any serious relationship?

Nothing serious for now, just focusing in bulding my career.

Q- Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

In five years i would like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in the blogging sector, i want to change and upgrade it for better, It shouldn’t be just bloging but a forum u can explore.

Q- As a public figure, how would you handle seduction,

Hmmmm, when i get to the bridge, i will cross it.

Q- considering the state of the country, if u are given a free visa to abandon your blogging dreams and start a new life abroad…. which will u go for?

Q- (laughing so loud) i cant abandone what i took 7 years to build, blogging is a universal thing, its not just limited to Nigerians alone, its a career that is open to greater opportunities, if i can not travel with my pepperedgist and all my dreams then its not worth it. We are going together (lol) its more than a dream, its a future.

Q- What message do you have for Youths out there?

My message for the youth is to keep pushing, never give up, continue to explore and also make Google your friend positively, ask questions, make research. Above all, never give up.