If you ask Olamide Ayoade what it means to juggle multiple roles, he might just say: “These are the issues.” or “Awon challenges yen po gan.” which translates to ‘The challenges are so much.’
Running Penbleeds and Co., a start-up self-publishing company, while navigating life as a final-year Mass Communication student at OOU, a campus journalist, a campus tech community lead, and a social media strategist is no small feat. The weight of deadlines, clients, and academic responsibilities often feels like a three-way tug-of-war. But Olamide doesn’t just juggle; he thinks, strategizes, builds, and executes.
His love for storytelling started right from his early years in high school when he developed a very strong interest in literature and was later awarded the best-graduating student of his set in 2019. He is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), a decision that laid the foundation for his diverse career as a multipotentialite and multifaceted creative individual.
For him, writing is not just a career but a calling that began in his formative years. His love for literature started in secondary school, where he was drawn to poetry as an art student. It was in poetry that he first found a medium that could capture emotions, tell stories, and create magic with words.
“My passion for writing started with poetry. I fell in love with literature and got exposed to various forms of writing. What made me explore poetry more was the way it captures emotions, tells stories, and creates magic with just words.”
While many struggle to balance multiple creative interests, Olamide has thrived at the intersection of creative writing, publishing, journalism, and social media strategy. His journey is not just about mastering these fields but about using them as powerful tools to shape narratives, amplify voices, and challenge perspectives.
The Moment He Knew He Was All In
It happened in his 400-level first semester, that moment when he landed a full publishing deal while balancing school and extracurriculars. The win was proof that Penbleeds and Co. wasn’t just an idea anymore. It was a force.
Then came the loss.
A major potential client, the CEO of the Stephen Akintayo Foundation, the world’s most influential investment coach of African descent, walked away. Not because of incompetence, but because schoolwork stole the time needed to meet deadlines.
That was a hard pill to swallow, but it taught him something: you don’t always wait for the perfect balance—you work with what you have, where you are, and keep moving.
The Poet Who Don’t Sleep
Olamide’s literary journey is an inspiring one. He is the author of Poets Don’t Sleep, a chapbook that reflects his deep connection to the night as a self-proclaimed nyctophile. His poetry explores themes of identity, grief, faith, spirituality, and personal growth, earning him recognition on platforms like Ake Review Vol. Xi, Courtship of Winds, Cloudscent Journal, Waccamaw Lit Mag, Pepper Coast Lit Mag, Poetry Column NND, Hyacinth Review, The Indianapolis Review, IbadanArts, Ariel Chart, SprinNG, Eremite Poetry, and The Academy of the Heart and Mind.
“Poetry, to me, is a form of deep reflection and expression. It’s where emotions, faith, and personal experiences meet. It’s not just about rhymes or stanzas; it’s about truth and weaving language into art.”
In 2021, he was the first runner-up in the BKPW October poetry contest. In 2022, he made history as the first OOU student to reach the finals of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize, finishing as fourth runner-up with his poem, Metaphor for Cartography. His poem, This Poem Is A Hym(e)n, & Out Of It Comes a Broken Son(g), found a home in the prestigious Ake Review Vol. 11, and the first poem from his forthcoming chapbook, I Run into Prayer When I Try to Genesis a Poem, was published in Courtship of Winds Lit Mag (Jan 2025).
The Award-Winning Journalist: Telling Stories That Matter
Olamide’s foray into journalism has been equally impactful. In February 2025, he won the Best Business Feature category at the Campus Business Journalism Awards for his article, How OOU Student Entrepreneurs Leverage Tech for Career Advancement. The piece highlighted how students use technology to build careers while still in school, showcasing his ability to spotlight underreported stories.
“Winning the National Wire Campus Business Journalism Award is one achievement that stands out for me. It wasn’t just about the recognition—it was about the story behind it. My feature highlighted how student entrepreneurs use technology to advance their careers, and knowing that my work could showcase real struggles and solutions made the award even more meaningful.”
His journey into journalism began in 2022 when he joined OOU Campus Mirror as a newly admitted student. Reporting stories fascinated him, especially those that shape society and give people a voice. Under the mentorship of Rahma Jimoh, who also guided him in poetry, Olamide improved his storytelling skills in both journalism and creative writing.
Rahma speaks highly of olamide “Olamide Ayoade is a brilliant, intelligent, and smart young writer who is curious and ready to learn and explore. He is also team-spirited and passionate. I particularly admire his humility, hardworking attitude, and willingness to try new things,” she said.
From being a reporter to becoming a sub-editor, he now serves as Vice President and Editor at OOU Campus Mirror. He has worked with Ripples Nigeria and INSDEC and interned at the Media Career Development Network (MCDN), where he developed strong storytelling and digital media skills to become an effective contemporary journalist. He has also written for Ripples Nigeria, Ogunwatch, and New Dawn Nigeria.
Some of his most notable feature stories include:
“The Cost of Knowledge: How Rising Data Prices are Hindering Nigerian Students” – Published on Ogun Watch
“Oshodi: A Commerce, Transport Hub with Rich History” – Published on Ripples Nigeria
“How OOU Student Entrepreneurs Leverage Tech for Career Advancement.” – Published on OOU Campus Mirror
The Entrepreneur: Building a Legacy with Penbleeds and Co.
Beyond his personal writing, Olamide is helping others bring their stories to life. In April 2023, he founded Penbleeds and Co., a self-publishing company offering services such as ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, book writing, eBook creation, publishing, and book distribution.
He has also broken barriers by working for international clients in London, Malawi, and South Africa.
One of Penbleeds and Co.’s standout books is “Authorblish,” a self-publishing blueprint designed to guide aspiring authors through the publishing process. Launched on January 14, 2023, this book reflects Olamide’s commitment to making book publishing accessible for emerging writers. Another way he strives to support emerging writers and aspiring authors is with the Become an Author Bootcamp (BAAB), an initiative of Penbleeds and Co. Academy.
Balancing It All: A Creative Who Never Pauses
Olamide wears many hats, and managing multiple creative pursuits requires discipline and strategic planning.
Aside from being a student, poet, and journalist, he is also:
Founder & Director of Penbleeds and Co., Vice President & Editor of OOU Campus Mirror, Campus Lead of Amazing Tech Community (ATC) Africa – OOU Chapter, and Social Media Manager for Positivia Value Consult, a recruiting firm.
How does he balance it all?
“Balancing everything requires discipline and knowing when to shift focus. Some days, journalism takes the front seat because of deadlines. Other times, poetry demands attention, especially with submission deadlines. With publishing, I’ve built a team of volunteers who help run the company, so I plan ahead and delegate tasks when necessary. These are the issues. Awon challenges yen po gan.” Which translates to ‘the challenges are so much.’
For Olamide, treating each creative endeavor as interconnected rather than separate is key. Journalism sharpens his research and storytelling skills, which in turn influences his poetry and publishing. This way, he integrates his potential to reach a diverse range of audiences scattered globally.
“At the core of it all, I remind myself why I started. Even when things get overwhelming, the passion keeps me going.”, he reaffirms.
A Vision for the Future
Beyond writing and journalism, Olamide has a deep love for music, especially rap and drilling genres. As a songwriter, he blends literary and musical elements to create a distinctive artistic voice while still in practice to master his sound.
Looking ahead, his aspirations are clear:
”In writing, I want to publish works that leave a lasting impact—poems and books that inspire, challenge, and reveal deep truths. In journalism, I aim to tell stories that matter, focusing on business, tech, and human-interest reporting, with an emphasis on impact and solution journalism. I also want to contribute to media innovation, exploring how digital platforms can transform storytelling.
As an entrepreneur, I see Penbleeds and Co. growing into a leading self-publishing company in Africa, making book publishing easier for aspiring authors. Beyond that, I want to mentor young writers and journalists, providing platforms where their voices can be heard.
At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to be the better version of myself, keep writing, keep evolving, and keep making an impact globally.”
As he once wrote on LinkedIn:
“Sometimes, you don’t wait for the perfect balance. You work with what you have, where you are, and keep moving.”
And that’s exactly what he does.