This was announced at the “Evening with Wole Soyinka and Nigeria’s Outstanding Literary Stars” sponsored by Globacom and held at the weekend at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel, VI, Lagos.
(Photo above: distinguished judges of Glo Literature Prize & WS: Prof. Olu Obafemi of University of Ilorin, Prof (Mrs.) Akachi Ezeigbo of University of Lagos, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Mohd Inuwa Umar Buratai of ABU, Zaria and Dr. Ogochukwu Promise, Secretary of the Panel at the launch of Glo Literature Prize for Undergraduate Students in Lagos on Friday.)
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| Nobel Laureate and special guest of honour, Prof. Wole Soyinka and officials of the Brazilian Embassy at the special evening organized by Globacom in honour of Prof. Wole Soyinka and other outstanding Nigerian writers at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos on Friday. |
Ebenezer Kolawole, Gloworld Coordinator, who announced the
Prize on behalf of the Board and Management of the company, said it
would be an annual competition open to all students of Nigerian
universities, both public and private. The first edition of the award,
he said, would be held in 2016, and that entries would be accepted for
unpublished manuscripts which should be original scripts.
“Our objective is to promote the study of all genres of
literature.
Therefore, Globacom is offering prizes to winners in the
following categories: Prose, Drama and Poetry. The winner in each
category will receive the sum of N1.5m (one million, five hundred
thousand naira),” he explained, adding that this is the first time that
any organisation has offered prizes for all the three genres of
literature at this level of competition.
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| The Nobel Laureate and guest of honour, Prof. Wole Soyinka, explaining a literary point to the trio of outstanding award-winning writers (L-R) E. C. Osondu, Tope Folarin and Sefi Atta at the Glo-sponsored "An Evening with Wole Soyinka", held on Friday at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. |
Kolawole said that Globacom has selected a panel of
renowned scholars who have distinguished themselves locally and
internationally as judges of the Prize in order to ensure a credible
selection and award process.
The panel includes Professor Femi Osofisan, Professor
(Mrs.) Akachi Ezeigbo of the University of Lagos, Professor Umar
Buratai, Dean, Faculty of the Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Professor Olu Obafemi of the University of Ilorin and Dr. Promise
Ogochukwu, who is the secretary of the panel.
“The Glo Literature Prize for Undergraduate Students is
part of our holistic appreciation of the importance of literature in the
society. Literature is the mirror of the society we live in, and plays a
vital role in communicating and preserving our culture, traditions and
attitudes", he said.
“We are of the firm belief that the Prize will provide
added impetus to the education establishment and to Nigerian students,
particularly in the field of literature and the creative industry,”
Kolawole stated.
An Evening with Wole Soyinka and Nigeria’s Outstanding
Literary Stars was organized to celebrate the continent's biggest
literary icon and Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and three of
Nigeria’s young but inspirational writers. They are 2006 winner of Wole
Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, Sefi Atta, and Caine Prize
winners E.C. Osondu and Tope Folarin.
The company said the event was organized to pay tribute to
the literary stars for their immense contributions to the study of
literature and for putting Nigeria on the world literary map.
In a goodwill message at the event, Globacom Chairman, Dr.
Mike Adenuga Jr., described Prof Soyinka as an uncommon patriot and
intellectual deity who has made the black race proud.
“Prof Soyinka has not only remained steadfast in his
pursuit of social justice and good governance, but has all his adult
life been one of the icons of Nigeria’s moral fabric. He is a sedulous
writer and raconteur par excellence whose works have for decades
remained study materials the world over and will be for generations to
come,” Dr Adenuga noted.
He also commended the three young writers for being good
ambassadors of the country and for putting their footprint on the world
literary map.
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