Pen Nigeria Centre is to mark this year’s International Literacy Day (ILD), on Saturday, September 8, 2018.
A statement by its President, Folu Agoi, said the date which coincides with its meeting is aimed at discussing literature and linguistic expression in a pluralistic and multilingual society under the theme Literacy and skills development.
According to him, “The art of writing and freedom of expression, including linguistic rights, are at the core of what we do at PEN Nigeria Centre. So the highlights of the programme include readings and performances of creative works, and discourse.”
As part of the day, members will be in conversation with Guest Speakers Adewale Maja-Pearce, Olayinka Oyegbile, and Akeem Lasisi. Mr. Maja-Pearce is former Africa editor of Index on Censorship magazine, and editor of the (now defunct) Heinemann African Writers Series, and a writer. Mr. Oyegbile is the Deputy Editor of The Nation on Sunday, he is also a writer while Mr. Lasisi is a performance poet, an author and journalist.
The meeting is to hold at CORA House, 12, Animashaun Street, off Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos, at 1 pm.
PEN Nigeria is one of 147 PEN International centres worldwide. It’s a non-political, non-religious and non-governmental organization.