END SARS National Poetry Competition Winners Announced

 

 END SARS NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

 

The Organizers of the END SARS National Poetry Competition have announced the winners of the just concluded national poetry competition aimed at combating and campaigning against Police brutality, assault and battery. The winners were meritoriously picked from the 20 shortlisted entries earlier picked by Terseer Sam Baki.

Terseer Sam Baki is a celebrated poet and all round writer. He is the author of the poetry collection, 'Euphoria of Sophistry' and has published in several anthologies. Terseer Sam Baki is also the immediate past General Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Benue State chapter. He holds a degree in English Education and currently pursuing his Masters in Language Education at the Benue State University, Makurdi.

However, the winning entries were judged by Tom Block.

Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others. He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has exhibited his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. www.tomblock.com

Find below the final winners and outstanding entries:

PRIZES

1. Godstime Nwaeze – BERMUDA TRIANGLE ($100) – FIRST PRIZE
2. Frank Kaliati – STATE ARMED ROBBERS SQUAD (SARS) ($75) – SECOND PRIZE
3. Olude Peter Sunday – ENDSARS, LAW MAKERS OR LAW BREAKERS ($50) – THIRD PRIZE

HONORABLE MENTIONS (5)

1. Agada Patience Anthony – JOURNEY TO HOPE
2. Obiwuru Chidera Rex – THE TOLL GATE OF DEATH
3. Etumnu Ugochukwu Bright – OUR MOTHERLAND WEPT!
4. Mark Dave – CHEEPING EAGLE
5. Nwokeabia, Ifeanyi John – HOW OUR LIGHTS WERE PUT OFF

NOTABLES (2)

1. Chukwu Sunday Abel – SPLIT GREEN FLAG
2. Sunday Afolayan – PLAGUED BY THE ANGER OF HUNGER

 

The winners are to contact the national President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Wole Adedoyin for the release of their monetary prizes.

END SARS National Poetry Competition is a joint effort between the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) and the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), USA aimed at combating and campaigning against Police Brutality, Assault and Battery.

International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) gives voice to the voiceless; protects freedom of expression, and uses creativity to highlight human rights and social justice causes around the world.  The organization brings together all members of society through her programmes, from artists-in-exile and at risk; to activists on the front lines of the struggle for rights and justice in their own country; to artists working in all media, to national and international politicians, government agencies, social leaders and celebrities.  IHRAF believes that creative engagement with all members of the society is the surest path toward social justice and positive change.

Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), is an umbrella organisation that was founded to promote creative writing and literary arts among writers based in Nigeria between the ages of 10 and 40. It was founded in 2010 at the former house of the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka at the University of Ibadan. It was formerly known as the World of Poets and Literary Society.

Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) is a member of the International Authors Forum (IAF). It has also collaborated with different international organizations like Alliance Francaise (Nigeria), 100 Thousand Poets for Change (USA), Woman Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival (Italy) and lately International Human Rights Art Festival (USA).

In 2019, Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) was duly acknowledged and mentioned in a book titled “TEEN LIVES AROUND THE WORLD: A GLOBAL ENCYCLOPEDIA (2 VOLUMES)” edited by Karen Wells. The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) was described as the only teen writers’ body in Nigeria.

SYNW provides a platform for young writers to meet and collaborate, enhance and hone their writing skills. SYNW also publish, promote and market the works of its members.