Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

By Omolola Afolabi

 

The call for the inclusion of out of school children living with disabilities formed the thrust of discourse at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Out of School Children Empowerment Foundation (OSCEF) and Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities recently at Oshodi, Lagos.

The MOU according to Chairman JONAPWD Lagos, Dr. Adebayo Bukola is to boost collaboration and partnership with OSCEF in order to work on putting more out

Speaking on the importance of the partnership, he said ‘the reality of out of school children is very critical indeed as research has shown that almost 50 percent of out of school children are children with disabilities.

This is the result of a survey conducted by the USAID under the Assist Grant Project. It was discovered that out of about 13 million out of school children, close to 6 million of them are children with disabilities’

“As an organisation that is of and for persons with disabilities in Lagos and an umbrella body for all disability groups in Nigeria as we are in the 36 states of Nigeria, we look at need to work with  OSCEF to contain the menace of out of school children with disabilities.

We would use our privileges such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC status and our affiliation with global disability organisations like the International Disability Alliance, African Disability Forum to champion this course of including children living with disabilities who are out of school.

“Our  mantra  Effective Partnerships, informs our various collaborations such as we are doing with OSCEF as we realise we can’t do this alone because to achieve optimal results, we must partner with cognate organisations and individuals .It’s a statement of fact that PWDs suffer a lot of discrimination and exclusion in our society. So to enable us change some of these ugly trends, we have to climb on the shoulders of other people and organisations.

He continued: “As our organisation does not have enough resources as many of our members are indigent and unemployed, we would therefore like to leverage on the resources, human capital, opportunities that other partners can provide for us to achieve our own goals.

Read Also: COVID-19: ‘We no longer feel impact of schools’ closure’

 

It is, therefore, very comforting that we have an organisation that already works with out of school children, so there is no point reinventing the wheel, as the education of our children is of utmost priority to us, the reality that many of them are out of school, we must ensure that they are returned to schools. This can only be possible with the level of expertise OSCEF presents.

The Education Committee of JONAPWD will work closely with OSCEF to ensure we return children who are out of school to schools and most importantly, ensure they remain in school and complete the schooling process.After they finish school, we also have a committee that will take up the issue of employment”.

He noted that Lagos State has about 44 inclusive schools and four special schools, adding that there are schools that will absorb these childrens.

Founder and Executive Director OSCEF, Mr.  Akeem Kelani  lauded JONAPWD for accepting the collaboration, promising to provide the technical support for the team in the process of enrolment of out of school children with disabilities. He said all the areas JONAPWD pointed out will be duly taken care of and the challenges will also be identified.

“While we understand the financial limitations of the organisation, our working together will make us garner support from other humanitarian organisations. Again, we would also try to seek advocacy for the increment in the number of inclusive schools in Lagos with the relevant stakeholders and authorities,” he added.

He, however, stressed that international support and collaboration are needed to champion this cause. He used the opportunity to laud the consistent support OSCEF has been receiving from an NGO in the United States; Be The Light Corps run by Mrs. Eucharia Njoku and a Nigerian US immigrant who is deeply interested in humanitarian activities such as donation of mobility gadgets, clothes and consumables to out of school children and children with disabilities.

He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and local organisations to take a cue from Njoku to donate to the humanitarian cause so as to bridge both the educational and social gap between this category of children and their privileged counterparts.

As the lockdown continues in Lagos and some other states in Nigeria, how are the writers spending their time during this period and what are ways they are reinventing themselves? Writers under the auspices of the Nigerian Centre of PEN International, aka PEN Nigeria, are interrogating proactive ways at a special online rendezvous on how to make the best out of the stay home order, reports EVELYN OSAGIE 

 

Since the 29th of last month, Lagos, alongside Ogun State and Abuja, has been placed on two weeks lockdown by the pronouncement of the President owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was one week after Lagos was shut down by the state government.

With the increase in the number of affected persons, the lockdown was extended for another two weeks. This move has not been without its negative impacts on the creative community, especially writers.

Given the apprehension occasioned by armed robbery and other insecurity issues, forcing many residents to adopt the duties of night guards, starving people staying up all night to fight off marauders, no doubt this period has been particularly traumatic, especially for writers.

As a special intervention meant to create an opportunity for interaction oriented towards enlightenment and entertainment, PEN Nigeria through its Free the Word WhatsApp platform dedicated to creative works and critical essays, held a special online rendezvous on “COVID-19 and the writer: coping in a lockdown”.

The event, which is the first of its kind in the country, was a colourful congregation of creatives in and outside Nigeria, journalists, students, aspiring writers and some seasoned medical professionals, specially invited to enlighten us on issues pertaining to our health, including mental health, particularly in view of the pressure – physical, psychological, economic, etc. – under which we carry out our responsibilities.

“This period has been particularly traumatic for writers who are known to be hypersensitive to chaos, discomfort and claustrophobia, a situation has exposed many of us, writers, to extreme boredom and depression, observed the President of PEN Nigeria, Folu Agoi.

While the event fielded four panels, Pen Nigeria’s online event was moderated  by Pen Nigeria General Secretary, Daggar Tolar; DianaAbasi; Ralph Tathagata and Taofeek Olatunbosun. The panelists included Dr Tony Marinho, Dr Kilani H. Taiwo, Dr Toyin Salawu, Ayo Oyoze-Baje, Adewale Maja-Pearce, Marita Banda from Zambia, Akeem Lasisi, DianaAbasi and Wendy Nnadi, among other participants.

But how are the writers spending their time during this lockdown and what are ways they are reinventing themselves. These and other concerns made the conversation.

 

Coping in a lockdown

 

“The first week of the Corona virus lockdown was particularly traumatic for virtually everyone in the state, especially writers who are mostly naturally hypersensitive to chaos. Many of us spent the entire week tracking breaking news and reading up on the new virus, a pandemic about which very little was known, even by medical professionals,” began Agoi.

“By the second week of the lockdown – a lockdown which, as someone put it, might be more likely to be a marathon race than a sprint, some of us had almost become world experts on viruses; and with the slogan ‘Stay at home!’ gaining currency, boredom had started creeping in, with depression tagging along, a dangerous trend which, if not arrested on time, might turn out to be more devastating than the virus itself.

This is not a one-off event. We hope to collect materials for a follow-up to “Silver Lining” – An Anthology of Nigerian Literature (edited by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and I). The next edition will be hosted via Skype, Zoom call or any other digital platform.

He called on the government to cushion the excruciating impact of the Coronavirus lockdown particularly on creative writers and other components of the creative community who have already spent about one month in confinement,” he continued.

On his part, the PRO of First Technical University, (Tech-U) and poet, Akeem Lasisi, in his submission entitled “Nigerian writers at the mercy of Coronavirus lockdown”, argued that the Nigerian literary industry has for long been under a lockdown.

He noted that: “We have been enjoying our freedoms of association, movement and socialising etc, yet the environment in which we operate is extremely harsh. Ours is a literary industry where the reading culture is very low, where paper and many other printing materials are imported as all production outfits are dead and long buried.

“But this is not to say that there is no blessing in disguise for poets and other writers. The lockdown provides more time to think and write. So, some damn good works can rise from the ash of the scourge. The lull has also further established that we need to cultivate online writing adventures more than ever before…As for me, I am not composing many poems during this lull.

I am making some drafts while also prospecting for ideas. I also try to enjoy and tender existing poems in a collection of tributes I hope to get out soon. One of the poems I sent to this platform alongside this write-up is one of them and it is for acclaimed film-maker, Kunle Afolayan.”

For Dr Marinho, “The lockdown has brought new life to the earth of our birth and will bring cleaner air, rivers, oceans, seas, and reduce refuse ‘making even our dustbins hungry’. The cost is a social and business one. The question of providing for writers crops up and of course will not go away.

My experience with writing is that I am not good enough to live by it and wisely in my case, sacrificed myself on the altar of taking another profession in my case medicine, in order to feed my family. As we complain about poor medical services, we must be up to date with advances on the home front in Nigeria”

Founder of Leading Lady with G-Factor, Wendy Nnadi, gave a simple guide on how to stay creative this period: “Wake up – breakfast, exercise/yoga, meditate on what gives you inspiration, write down what you see/hear, pick up a book/go online and read, go back to what you wrote in the morning and develop it”.

“Writing under lockdown or self-isolation in the face of this pandemic may feel both impossible (due to lost focus or urgent priorities) and a necessity. As a writer this is a good time to sit back and interact with your inner being, your imaginative eyes and birth something great in the form of a poem, a book, a painting etc.”

Literary world can make a difference

 

Before this pandemic, she noted that some great authors have written much about the pandemic. “As writers we can start writing about hope in this season, we can write about history and how men survived during pandemic such as this.

We can go deeper in the prophetic realm and God can give us something to write about the situation. Let’s not relent, let our pen keep speaking,” Nnadi added.

In the same vein, Agoi stated: “COVID-19 is much more than a health crisis. This pandemic has the potential to create devastating social, economic and humanitarian crises.

Experience with other outbreaks has shown there must be coordinated and integrated approach to urgently and effectively respond to the pandemic. Everyone has a role to play.”

Emphasising the importance of the social media at such a time as this, in her piece, entitled: The Role of the Writer in a Worldwide Lockdown, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Interim Chairman of Lagos branch, DianaAbasi, observed that creativity must be shared to have impact and heal.

She said: “Thanks to Instagram live and Facebook live, Book chats no longer require convergence of many in one physical location, Ballerinas in Russia inspire the world with dance routines shared on social media pages, and artists share their art and creative process on these same platforms too.

When this is over, our works will have toughened us, redeemed us from our pain, and given others reason to be irrepressible. Let us stride forward courageously with the word as our sheath and sword! Artists worldwide have risen to the occasion with creative modes of sharing their art with the world.

In this global village we have become, we stand together – though remotely, this pandemic is our common enemy, but our survival is a common goal.”

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

 

AS the world grapples with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, there seems to be a solution in sight. Founder and General Overseer, Perfect Healing and Miracle Ministries, Lagos, Bishop Isaac Olamide Ode, has said that God revealed to him that the ravaging virus will soon be over. He, however, urged the world to seek His face to have a permanent solution to the crisis.

He said to overcome this pandemic, the people of the world should as a matter of urgency, make a declaration 18 times every day with the saying “Jesus is Lord, Alleluya” ie twice nine times a day.  He noted that from the moment the revelation is made public, he would commence a seven-day prayer, thanking God for His mercy at this trying period.

“My demand is that from the day this report will be published, I will go on a seven-day prayer thanking God, not asking Him for solution. Everybody should be making a declaration 18 times every day with the saying “Jesus is lord Alleluya” ie, twice nine times a day,” he declared.

Ode spoke in Lagos on Monday on the coronavirus pandemic and the seeming inability of world leaders and scientists to proffer solutions to the scourge.

He disclosed that his encounter with God over the coronavirus began last Wednesday night when he went into prayers seeking God’s intervention on the plague.

“Last week Wednesday, I was fired to commence a three-day prayer to God because most world leaders seem confused on the way out of the coronavirus crisis.

The more we delay, the more death we will record. But if this crisis is approached  quickly and in the real way it should be done, we will find a solution, thereby reducing the death rate. I have a special relationship with heavens, and I can use that relationship to tap the grace of God.

‘’That Wednesday night I went into prayer session and I got the assurance that I was the one God will use to restore peace. After a long prayer, I went to bed.

In my sleep, I saw a message flashed before me containing about seven lines typewritten with a caption Cathay in bold print.

I couldn’t read the other messages in small characters before it went off. Still in my sleep, a heap of fresh green plantain was brought to me. Shortly after, I woke up. I knew that was a favourable dream.

“But I wanted to know the detail. I was thanking God while seeking a clearer meaning of the message. Again, I went back to pray to God to remove coronavirus from Nigeria. I later fell asleep and almost immediately I started seeing some messages.

I was surrounded by angels who told me to stop praying for Nigeria alone and that I should pray for the entire world because the virus is interconnected to all nations. Before I could change my prayers, they gave me two scriptures: Numbers 21, 4-9 and John 3. 14. And I woke up,” he recalled.

According to Ode, the first scripture;  Numbers 21, 4-9 is about when Israelites spoke against God and Moses in the wilderness. ‘God was angry with them and He sent fiery serpents to bite the Israelites leaving many dead.  And Moses prayed for the people for forgiveness.

‘’And the Lord said unto Moses, make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.’

The second scripture; John 3, 14 says ‘’And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up.’ From my understanding, the coronavirus problem is spiritual because the scientists may never find the solutions.’

“On my third day of praying, after sometimes I was tired and I went to bed. But in that sleep, I was praying ‘All we are saying stop this virus.’ But the host came with the angels and reminded me how God has helped me in life.

On Friday night in my sleep, the song we were singing was ‘All we are saying is no more virus.’ It was a jubilating scene. And I woke up. It was celebration for me all through that day in my house.

But, on Saturday night, I dreamt of walking past a table packed full of ripe tomatoes. As I walked past it, the table was trembling and all the tomatoes were thrown on the ground and scattered. This happened exactly 2am.

To me, I don’t need any explanation because those tomatoes were the virus. The spirit in me told me it has happened, and I started thanking God for His mercy,” he said, noting that he is merely a messenger in the hands of God.  He assured that with these encounters with God, the end of coronavirus has come.

“Where is that Doyen of the Nigerian theatre, Hubert Ogunde? Where is the people’s voice? Where is that Colossus that speaks sense to the powers that be? These are some of the questions that came to Adedara Oduguwa while pondering on the state of the nation viz-a-viz three decades anniversary of Hubert Adedeji Ogunde’s death in this tribute.

 

ON Tuesday, February 18, 2020, while on a desk study, I came across this highly disturbing news on the wall of The Punch Newspaper: “Reps order 400 exotic cars, reject Nigerian brands.” All the 360 House of Representatives members want 400 units of Toyota Camry 2020 priced between N26.75m and N35.75m totalling N6 billion — excluding the cost of shipping, import duty which is 70 per cent of the net cost and other clearing charges and taxes at the port.

The lawmakers rejected Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, a Nigerian brand based in Nnewi, Anambra State. This is in a country where unemployment rate is 33.5 per cent in 2020 according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This unemployment rate contributes to the high rate of crime like mass murders, insurgency, militancy, armed robbery, kidnappings, fraud, ritual killings, suicide and drug abuse among others. Indeed, Nigeria was declared  ‘the global poverty capital  by the World Bank in 2018.

Then, I was tempted to ask, “Where is that Doyen of the Nigerian theatre, Hubert Ogunde? Where is the people’s voice? Where is that Colossus that speaks sense to the powers that be?

Many youths of today might not be very familiar with the name, but for those born in the 50s,60s,70s and early 80s, Hubert Adedeji Ogunde was a colossus whose many works of art queries government officers’ payola, malfeasance and bungling. Ogunde was jailed several times for standing on the side of his employer — the masses.

Ogunde was born on Monday, July 10, 1916 to Mr. Jeremiah Dehinbo Ogunde and Mrs. Eunice Owotunsan Ogunde, in the small ancient town of Ososa in the heart of Ijebu Province (presently under Odogbolu Local Government).

That son grew to become a teacher, police officer, teetotaler, human rights activist, seer, folklorist, actor, playwright, musician, dancer, dramatist and nationalist.  April 4, 2020 would make it 30 years that he died.

Ogunde was completely fearless and selfless. He would not sing or act to please. For instance, in 1944, Ogunde added his voice to the agitation for independence by writing thought-provoking opras.

The colonial masters were infuriated by such plays as, Israel in Egypt (1944), Nebuchadnezzar’s Reign and Belshazzar’s Feast (1945), Worse than Crime (1945), Strike and Hunger (1945), Tiger’s Empire (1945), among many others.

Ogunde was arrested, jailed and humiliated. He earned himself series of bans for standing for the truth and what was right.

Moreover, Ogunde was an outspoken political commentator, ready to take great risk — including the destruction of his theatre — to fight for the freedom of his people from colonial rule.

According to an Editorial in Zik’s West African Pilot Newspaper (1947) “Ogunde’s preoccupation with the projection of the cultural as well as the political identity of his people were enough for the nationalist movement to call him ‘a genius’ who did not seek ‘wealth or fortune’ …nor self inflation or any other artifice of fame, a genius who was once a poor police officer, perhaps one who shared with three others ‘ten by eight’!!

A day came when he sat down and composed nature airs and dramatised them and by 1947, had become  ‘Nigeria’s Theatre King’ … It is courage to take risks and determination to forge ahead in spite of man-made handicaps. Good luck to Hubert Ogunde.”

While many artists, musicians, writers, clergymen, journalists and social commentators of today are working as mouth-pieces for the government in power and the economic profiteers, artists of the old were mainly into the ‘Complementary Institution’ saddled with the responsibility of talking for the people and checking abuse of power.

Sadly, that role is today bedevilled by corruption and monetisation of which has seen the complementary institution compromised and whisked into the pit of misrepresentation. It has thereby become a tool to torment the poor, who themselves look up to be saved by the complementary institution.

Today,we are no longer in the British colonial regime; we are now under new colonial masters — the egocentric  elite.

These are mainly politicians who rule us through the shackles of poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructural facilities, death traps called roads, darkness called light among other evils.

The institution Ogunde left behind is now a shadow of itself. Musicians of today now preach Malianism, a term used to describe people following the doctrine of non-compliance to social norms and ethics.

A Malian does not wear belt, a Malian does not graduate from school, a Malian does not respect elders, a Malian does not marry for love. Musicians and dramatists of today act to please and or act to gain. They are now tools for illegality, incompetence, mediocrity and ignorance.

After Nigeria gained her independence on October 1, 1960, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the leader of the Yorubas and former Premier of the defunct Western Region was conspired against.

He was jailed 10 years over a trumped up charge of ‘treason’. Awo’s detractors were so happy. It was during this period of jubilation that Ogunde and his troupe were invited by the new Western Region government headed by one-time best friend of Chief Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola to present plays. Chief Ogunde unveiled two plays; Yoruba Ronu (Yoruba Think) and Otitokoro  (Truth is bitter).

Yoruba Ronu was a prophetic play that lampooned the government and foretold the political future of Chief Akintola and his followers. In 2017, Adedara Oduguwa translated the Yoruba play into English language; the excerpt is reproduced below:

There lived a king in Yorubaland named Fiwajoye. This king was so powerful and popular that the people of his kingdom loved him so much. It was a time of plenty.

But his second-in-command, Ekeji-Oye was envious and wanted the king to be dethroned so he could be king.

Ekeji-oye, therefore, betrayed the king and the Yorubas into the hands of Yeye-Iloba, an implacable enemy of the Yoruba.

After a harrowing servitude during which King Fiwajoye and his people were maltreated and humiliated, the Yorubas were able to fight and win back their freedom. And the fortunes of the Yorubas were regained several folds.

Ekeji oye was subsequently banished from Yorubaland.”

— Culled from the unpublished book Hubert Ogunde: Odyssey of a Renowned Nationalist by Adedara Oduguwa.

Chief Akintola and his ministers stormed out of the hall mid-way through the play;  they believed the drama was a ridicule of their government. By interpretation, Chief Awolowo was Oba Fiwajoye (who at the time was being jailed for treason), Chief Akintola was Ekeji-Oye (who sold his boss and by extension the Yorubas into slavery) while Yeye-Iloba represents Yorubas’ enemies.

The following day, Chief Akintola’s government slammed a ban on Ogunde Theatre for two years (1964-1966) in the Western Region where 80 percent of his fans resided. As a result of the ban, no one could buy or play Ogunde’s songs on radio or at home.

It was a turbulent time for the creative actor and father of Nigerian theatre. But then, Ogunde’s prophesy (Yoruba Ronu) came to pass, just two years after the play was first staged. Chief Akintola and 21 other top government officials, including the Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa were assassinated in the January 1966 coup.

Subsequently, Chief Awolowo regained his freedom, rose to become the first de facto second-in-command under any military regime in Africa, and also Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Finance.

After 30 years of Ogunde’s departure, the truth is still very bitter; Yorubas are yet to think; Israelites (Nigerians) are still in  Egypt of want, unemployment, bad leadership, insecurity, poverty, diseases, poor infrastructural facilities etc.

Ogunde served only the masses. And in the process, made a fortune.

Amidst the present incessant killings in Nigeria by the Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani herdsmen, insensitivity of government, musicians scramble for money and not for social engineering.

How can there be peace when clerics do not preach the truth but preach to please? How can there be jobs when public officers are now king Nebuchadnezzar that listens to no opposition? Are the Yorubas not in another train to Iloba?

Where is Ogunde, the people’s voice?

 

It was a journey into history and exposition of pristine art and the Southsouth heritage when some poets under the auspices of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) visited the largest private art collection in Nigeria and the Niger Delta Hall of Fame. They were not stopped by Covid-19, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

 

 

Widely celebrated Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Prof. Gabriel Godini Darah and the late Prof. Ola Rotimi stared down at guests as they made their way into the Niger Delta Hall of Fame established by front-line activist in the fight for the emancipation of the South-south region, Comrade Joseph Evah.

The place houses pictorial exhibits of hundreds of top-notch individuals in diverse fields from the South-south region.

“I want to prove to the world and those who say Niger Delta has nothing apart from fish and oil, that we have brains, people that have made their marks in humanity,” began Evah.

Excited by the historic collections, guests, largely comprising budding/established poets and literary enthusiasts, including an Australian poet Ozzy Bob, sandwiched the founder as he narrated interesting tales behind some of the exhibits.

One of the exhibits that caught their eyes was that of renowned poet and activist Odia Ofeimun who turned 70 recently. “We are proud to have Ofeimun as one of Niger Delta great achievers in our hall of fame along with other art icons, among others. He deserves to be celebrated and I’m happy that you have chosen to celebrate him. Nigeria should borrow a leaf from you poets, who are here united by poetry’’.

The veteran poet was the toast of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) Poetourism 2020 project. Tagged: “Celebration of Poetry, Tourism and Poet Odia Ofeimun at 70”, PIN took its participants on a creative journey. The tour, which began at the National Stadium, Lagos moved to the Niger Delta Hall of Fame and ended at the OYASAF art facility at Maryland, Lagos.

In addition to the tour, the event featured open mic sessions, celebratory readings and performances held in the buses and the two places visited.

 

Poetry in face of COVID-19

In face of Covid-19, the poets held the event to mark their day…but not without taking proper measures to ensure the safety of participants.

First the organisers ensured they did not go beyond the stipulated number of persons allowed for such meetings as earlier announced by the Lagos State government at the time. Loaded with sanitisers, guests were made to wash their hands at every stop.

“Our passion for poetry’s was the driving force that motivated the whole participants to ensure the day and our distinguished Ofeimun was highly celebrated,” the founder of PIN, Eriata Oribhabor, told The Nation.

 

Poetic toast to Ofeimun@70

Poets performed their poems, poetic adaptions and Ofiemun’s poems in honour of the celebrator. “We are delighted to be celebrating one of Nigeria’s foremost citizens – distinguished Poet Odia Ofeimun, his physical presence here means so much to us. His imprint in the sand of time would remain etched in memories of poets and people who value the role of poets in birthing better societies.”

“The coincidence of hosting Poeturism on World poetry Day 2020 is both welcoming and pleasing. Consequently we are duty bound to continually market the activities of our hosts to Nigerians and the world,” Oribhabor said.

The founder of OYASAF facility which is named after him, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, who was a school mate of the celebrator, described him as “one of Nigeria’s brightest minds” and Africa’s gift to the world.

He said:  “Art (visual art) is like a poem. Art is a poem without words. That is the connection of what I’m doing and what this great man has become. I am always overwhelmed with joy anytime I see him and those of us who went to University of Ibadan (UI) are proud of him. I congratulate you on your 70th birthday. May he continue to be useful to humanity.”

“We celebrate Ofeimun as he turns 70. His achievements remains an inspiration to us poet. I first met him through his poems,” said the interim Chairperson of Association of Nigerian Author (ANA), Lagos Branch, Iquo Abasi.

According to the moderator of  Poetourism, Chinyere Ezeigwe, “We are grateful to God Almighty for the life of the iconic Ofeimun and celebrated his achievement this World Poetry Day. Poetourism is an initiative established March last year to promote travels and tours among poets and inspire them to craft more lines of poetry. The first edition was held in Epe.”

 

Odia performs a poem

Perhaps moved by the poetic rendition, the celebrator took to the stage to perform his love poem, with Sandra Achebe as his model. The poet dreamed of a Nigeria where poetry would be widely appreciated. ” I remember we were invited to a festival of poetry in Columbia.

“Going to Medellin was the ultimate for poets all over the world. One of the exciting moments for me was that policemen when they see the poets, they recognise their quotes and  poems, which means that even policemen read the poems in Columbia. It was great to see that.