See: THE NATIONS NEWSPAPER PAGE 33 AND ALSO IN NATIONAL MIRROR PAGE24
See: THE NATIONS NEWSPAPER PAGE 33 AND ALSO IN NATIONAL MIRROR PAGE24
In quest to develop young writers in Primary and Secondary Schools, A 200 level Student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, and the Director, Speaking Pen International Concept, Abegunde Sunday was for 2 weeks at different schools in Lagos State and Ogun State orienting the Students on how to become a writer now and in future.
Abegunde who is also the official Nigerian representative of Caprecon Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization in the United Kingdom said the 2 weeks mentoring programme for the young Students is to develop talents. The programme themed ‘Let Your Voice Be Heard!’ spanned from 16thto 27th February 2015.
The first week was dedicated to an online poetry competition for poets in different tertiary institutions nationwide wherein a winner emerges everyday for the first week. During the course of the first week of online competition programme, the following winners emerged:
• MONDAY WINNING POEM (16th February, 2015) is ‘Forever Known’ by Ogedengbe Tolulope Ayobami, a Chemical Engineering Student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State
• TUESDAY WINNING POEM (17th February, 2015) is ‘Please’ by Ajise Vincent Olajide
• WEDNESDAY WINNING POEM (19th February, 2015) is ‘Awaited Guest’ by
James Jerome Okeme, a Geology Student in Delta State University, Abraka
• THURSDAY WINNING POEM (20th February, 2015) is ‘Malomo’ by Aremu Adams Adebisi
• FRIDAY'S WINNER (21st February, 2015) is ‘Tonight’ by Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, a student of University of Ibadan
The second week of the programme is the commencement of touring schools. The author of the motivational book ‘Unleash Your Potential’, Abegunde Sunday and some of his Speaking Pen International Concept officials also visited several secondary schools in Lagos and other parts of Ogun State, introducing the Students to "Unleash the Writer in You" and also initiated a general Career Talk section where Abegunde said, "Your talents should complete not compete with your academic studies".
During the programme, a couple of young writers were discovered in the schools among which are Ajibade Olasumbo of GEC Comprehensive College, Mosan, Lagos, who has written three short plays which are yet to be published and Ganiyu Mubideen of OSMA International School, Ayetoro, Ogun State who writes poetry among other things. These two talented children will have their writing sponsored by Caprecon Development Foundation (UK) and Speaking Pen International Concept.
Speaking to reporters after the 2 weeks programme, Abegunde said, “I think that every Nigerian child really needs to be given a chance to liberate their talents like this, and have their moment where they can benefit from a programme being brought into their school, where they are the central focus of attention, Young people in Nigeria are extraordinarily motivated and enthusiastic forces for the future of Nigeria, and enabling them to become empowered is a crucial mission that he takes very seriously".
He also said the Nigeria Children deserve to be rewarded for their great capacity to overcome obstacles and to reach their goals through sheer hard work and determination. Speaking further, Abegunde Sunday said he believes that we were all born with two hands, one to help others and one to help ourselves. He said that it was a privilege to have helped Caprecon with their mission in the schools concerned, and how wonderful all of the children he met are. Saying the days he spent encouraging children to thrive and to seize the day are never more precious and more rewarding!
ALL SELECTED POETS LIST
• Ogedengbe Tolulope Ayobami
• Jude Uchella
• Mesioye Affable Johnson
• Olajide Taiwo Teniola
• Abdulbasit Abubakar Wordsmith
• Dollin Holt
• Abegunde Sunday Olaoluwa
• Emecheta Christian
• Okeme James Jerome
• Ajise Vincent
• Salami Kayode Samuel
• James Jerome Okeme
• Justice Gift Ogochukwu
• Ogedengbe Tolulope Ayobami
• Mesioye Affable Johnson
• Williams O'Seun
• Aremu Adams Adebisi
• Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha
• Erah Oalind
• Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom
• Aremu Adams Adebisi
• Eyitayo Fasasi
The Paperback of our LOVE POEM ANTHOLOGY is now out. To get your copy in Nigeria, let me know asap so we can ship it along with the copies we are shipping into Nigeria.
See: THE NATIONS NEWSPAPER PAGE 33 AND ALSO IN NATIONAL MIRROR PAGE24
