How Prof. Remi Raji @ 50 National Poetry Competition Elevates SYNW to National Recognition

 

HOW PROF. REMI RAJI @ 50 NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION ELEVATES SYNW TO NATIONAL RECOGNITION

 

By Wole Adedoyin

In November 2011, Prof. Remi Raji @ 50 National Poetry competition was organized to commemorate the 50th birthday of renowned Nigerian poet, Prof. Remi Raji. The competition was a huge success, attracting over two hundred entries from over twenty states of the federation. The competition not only celebrated Prof. Raji’s milestone, but also gave the SYNW a wider recognition and platform to showcase their literary prowess.

The Prof. Remi Raji @ 50 National Poetry competition was a unique initiative, and the first of its kind from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers. The competition was aimed at discovering and promoting young and talented poets, while also celebrating the works of Prof. Remi Raji, who has made significant contributions to Nigerian literature over the years.

The competition was open to all Nigerian poets, and entries were submitted only in English. The quality of entries received was impressive, and the judges were impressed with the creativity and originality of the submissions.

To read the submitted entries, the SYNW has made them available on their website. Interested persons can access the entries by clicking on this link: https://takadaonline.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/prof-remi-raji-50-poetry-anthology/. The shortlisted entries are also available on this link: https://progresspublishing.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/shortlisted-entries-remi-raji-at-50-poetry-competition/.

The competition was judged by a panel of distinguished poets, including Prof. Obododima Oha and Mrs. Tiwatope Fakayode.

The winners of the competition were presented with their prizes at a special ceremony organized by the celebrant in the University of Ibadan. The event was attended by literary giants and enthusiasts, including Prof. Remi Raji himself, who was delighted with the quality of entries and the success of the competition.

In his remarks at the event, Prof. Raji expressed his appreciation to the SYNW for organizing the competition and for the recognition given to his work. He encouraged the winners to continue to hone their craft and to make meaningful contributions to Nigerian literature.

The SYNW also expressed their gratitude to all participants in the competition, and to the judges for their meticulous work in selecting the winners. The society emphasized its commitment to promoting and supporting young Nigerian writers, and to creating platforms for them to showcase their talent.

The success of the Prof. Remi Raji @ 50 National Poetry competition has been widely celebrated in Nigerian literary circles, and has helped to further establish the SYNW as a leading voice in Nigerian literature. The competition has also helped to raise awareness of the rich literary culture of Nigeria, and to inspire young writers to pursue their passion for writing.

 

How SYNW started in the former house of Prof. Wole Soyinka

 

HOW SYNW STARTED IN THE FORMER HOUSE OF PROF. WOLE SOYINKA

By: Wole Adedoyin

 

 The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) began its journey in 2011 with its inaugural meeting held in the former house of the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, behind UI Main Gate. The Late Dr. Remi Adedokun, former HOD of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, had graciously provided the venue for the meeting. Since then, the SYNW has come a long way, evolving into a dynamic literary organization that supports and promotes the works of young Nigerian writers.

One of the significant achievements of the SYNW is its affiliation with the International Authors Forum (IAF), a global platform for writers and literary organizations. The SYNW has also collaborated with various international organizations, including the Alliance Francaise (Nigeria), 100 Thousand Poets for Change, Woman Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival, International Women Writing Guild, International Writers Association, and International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF).

In 2019, the SYNW was recognized and mentioned in a book titled “TEEN LIVES AROUND THE WORLD: A GLOBAL ENCYCLOPEDIA (2 VOLUMES)” edited by Karen Wells. The book described the SYNW as the only active young writers’ body in Nigeria, highlighting the organization's significance in promoting literary creativity among young Nigerians.

The SYNW has initiated several literary projects aimed at promoting reading, writing, and publishing processes. One of such projects is the Fagunwa Day, which involves an Inter-secondary Schools Creative Writing Competition in Yoruba Language, reading contests, and the Fagunwa Memorial Lecture. The SYNW quarterly Workshop, which started via the Ibadan Writers Training Centre in 2012, has trained over 1,000 young writers. The Digital Publishing Project has published over 500 young writers, while the Annual Chinua Achebe Memorial lecture, now in its 7th edition, has published over 300 young essayists and poets.

Another SYNW project is the Read Across Nigeria, which aims to promote the reading culture across the country. Through this project, the SYNW took readings to over 20 states of the federation in 2016. Additionally, the SYNW’s 2000 E-Books per school project, also known as the Paperless Book Club project, encourages and assists public secondary schools in building E-Libraries and Electronic Book Clubs.

The SYNW has established several book clubs in various locations, including Ibadan Book Club, Osogbo Book Club, Iseyin Book Club, Ogbomosho Book Club, Eko Book Club, Atiba Book Club, Arewa Book Club, Akure Book Club, Ilesa Book Club, Abeokuta Book Club, Ekiti Book Club, and Edo Book Club. These book clubs aim to promote reading culture and literary creativity among young Nigerians.

The SYNW has also established initiatives aimed at promoting the works of renowned writers, including Khalil Gibran Society, Ulli Beier Society, J.P Clark Society, Fagunwa Society, and John Milton Society of Africa. For instance, the Khalil Gibran Society was established with support from the Gibran National Committee in Lebanon while the John Milton Society of Africa was founded with support from the John Milton Society of Geogia.

The SYNW has developed correspondence courses on creative writing (Poetry, Prose, and Drama) and the life and works of the Late D.O. Fagunwa. These courses aim to promote literary creativity and provide aspiring writers with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field.

In conclusion, the SYNW has played a crucial role in promoting literary creativity and supporting the works of young Nigerian writers. The organization's diverse projects and initiatives have had a significant impact on the literary landscape in Nigeria, and its collaborations with various international organizations have further enhanced its influence. With its continued commitment to promoting reading, writing, and publishing processes, the SYNW is poised to become one of the leading literary organizations in Nigeria.

Wole Adedoyin is the President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW).

SYNW Election Message: An Urgent Call To Action

 

SYNW ELECTION MESSAGE

"AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION: EXERCISE YOUR CIVIC DUTY AND BUILD A BETTER NIGERIA"

 

Dear Fellow Nigerians,

On behalf of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, we would like to urge all eligible voters to go out and exercise their civic duty by voting in today elections. The future of our great country lies in our hands, and it is our responsibility to elect leaders who will represent us and work towards building a better Nigeria.

We must all shun vote buying and any form of electoral malpractice. Our vote is our power, and we should not allow anyone to buy it. We must vote based on our conscience and for the candidate who we believe will work towards our collective goals.

We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their level of preparedness for the election. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that the election is free, fair, and credible. We urge them to remain impartial and ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.

As young writers, we are concerned about the state of our education system, which has been plagued by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and low morale among teachers. We call on the elected leaders to prioritize education and work towards improving the standard of education in Nigeria.

We also call on the government to address the issue of youth unemployment, which has become a major challenge in the country. The government must create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and provide opportunities for our youth to be gainfully employed.

We are also concerned about the security situation in the country, particularly the activities of insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements. We urge the government to take decisive action towards ending the insecurity in the country and ensuring that Nigerians can go about their daily activities without fear of attacks.

We call on our leaders to prioritize the welfare of the Nigerian people. The government must ensure that basic amenities such as electricity, water, and healthcare are available to all Nigerians.

We also call on the government to address the issue of corruption, which has hindered the progress of the country for many years. The government must take steps to ensure that corrupt individuals are brought to justice and that public funds are used for the benefit of the people.

We believe in the unity and diversity of Nigeria and urge our leaders to work towards fostering unity and promoting national integration. The government must ensure that all Nigerians are treated equally, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

As young writers, we believe in the power of information and communication. We call on the government to ensure that the media is free and independent and that journalists are not harassed or intimidated for doing their job.

We urge our fellow Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding during and after the election. We should avoid any form of violence and work towards building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

Thanks and God bless.

 

Wole Adedoyin

President

Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW)

25/02/2023

Why we stopped Fagunwa Day after the 7th edition

 

WHY WE STOPPED FAGUNWA DAY AFTER THE 7TH EDITION - SYNW

 

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) through its initiative Fagunwa Society started Fagunwa Day in 2011. This event was formerly known as Fagunwa Night, and it was created to celebrate the life and works of Late D.O. Fagunwa, a renowned Nigerian writer who authored several books in the Yoruba language.

During Fagunwa Day, students were tested in Yoruba writing and reading skills. The event also featured impromptu competitions in Yoruba poetry, prose, and drama. In addition, Fagunwa Memorial Lecture was part of the event. This lecture was delivered by renowned scholars who shared their knowledge and experience on Yoruba literature.

The first D.O. Fagunwa Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr. Bayo Adebowa, Founder of the African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Centre at Adeyipo, Ibadan. The second Fagunwa Lecture was delivered by Prof. Dotun Ogundeji, while the third edition of D.O. Fagunwa Memorial Lecture was delivered by Mr. Jare Ajayi.

Fagunwa Literature Prize (https://fagunwaday.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/fagunwa-literature-prize/) was also inaugurated, and winners were awarded cash prizes and certificates. The event was sponsored by various organizations, including Fagunwa Foundation, Nelson Publishers, University of Ibadan Press, among others.

The annual event ran from 2011 to 2017, and it has published over 200 Yoruba teen authors. Fagunwa Day was an avenue of testing the Yoruba writing and reading skills of secondary school students. It was a platform that promoted Yoruba language and culture among young Nigerians.

The event also attracted two of the children of Late D.O Fagunwa, Mrs. Diwura Fagunwa and Mr. Diipo Fagunwa. It also attracted important personalities like the Late Prof. Akinwumi Isola, Late Chief Supo Kosemani, Late Dr. Adebayo Faleti, Prof. Dotun Ogundeji, Late Remi Adedokun, Mr. Jare Ajayi, Akin Bello, to mention but a few.

The total of 50 schools had so far participated in the event before it stopped. Wole Adedoyin is the Coordinator of the event. The event created a platform for secondary school students to showcase their talents and improve their Yoruba language skills. The Fagunwa Day was a unique opportunity for young Nigerians to learn and appreciate Yoruba literature.

Unfortunately, Fagunwa Day stopped after the 7th edition due to lack of sponsorship. The event was costly to organize, and it required a significant amount of funds to run. Despite efforts to attract sponsors, the event could not secure enough funding to continue.

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) appreciates the support of all sponsors, partners, and participants who made the event a success. We also extend our gratitude to all the distinguished scholars and personalities who delivered the Fagunwa Memorial Lectures and graced the events with their presence.

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) remains committed to promoting Yoruba language and culture. We will continue to create platforms that celebrate Yoruba literature and provide opportunities for young Nigerians to learn and showcase their talents. We call on well-meaning individuals and organizations to support us in this endeavor.

Wole Adedoyin is the President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW).

Governor Seyi Makinde yet to fulfill his campaign promise on Bowers Tower

 

GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE YET TO FULFILL HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE ON BOWERS TOWER

 

By: Wole Adedoyin

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Nigeria, is facing criticism for failing to fulfill a key campaign promise. During his run for office, Governor Makinde promised to refurbish and reopen the iconic Bowers Tower in Ibadan, the state capital. The tower, which was built in the 1960s, had fallen into disrepair and was in dire need of renovation.

However, over three years into Governor Makinde's term, the tower remains untouched. The once proud landmark has become an eyesore, a symbol of broken promises and unfulfilled potential. Local residents and tourists alike are disappointed by the governor's lack of action, and many are starting to question whether he will ever follow through on his promises.

Governor Makinde's failure to refurbish Bowers Tower is particularly galling given the importance of tourism to the state's economy. Oyo State is rich in history and culture, and the tower could have been a major draw for tourists. Instead, the tower remains closed and off-limits, a missed opportunity for the state and its people.

The lack of progress on the tower is also a disappointment for local residents who had hoped that the governor's promises would lead to real change in their community. Many residents feel that the governor has neglected their needs and interests, and that he has not done enough to revitalize the area and create jobs.

Governor Makinde has been criticized for his slow pace of progress on other projects as well. Despite his campaign promises to create jobs and improve infrastructure, many residents feel that he has fallen short. Some have even accused the governor of failing to deliver on his promises, and of using the tower as a symbol of his broken promises.

The governor's lack of action on Bowers Tower has also sparked concern among preservationists and history buffs. The tower is an important part of the state's heritage, and many feel that it should be preserved and protected for future generations. Without a refurbishment, the tower is likely to deteriorate further, putting its future at risk.

Governor Makinde must take immediate action to fulfill his promise to refurbish Bowers Tower. The tower is an important part of the state's heritage, and it is essential that it be preserved and protected. The governor must also take steps to address the broader issues that have led to his slow pace of progress, including corruption and a lack of investment in infrastructure.

In conclusion, Governor Seyi Makinde's failure to refurbish Bowers Tower is a disappointment for the people of Oyo State, and a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead. The governor must take action to restore the tower and deliver on his campaign promises, if he is to win back the trust and support of the people.

Wole Adeoyin is the Coordinator of Writers for Democratic Change and Oyo Democratic Alliance