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
- Godstime Nwaeze –
BERMUDA TRIANGLE ($100) – FIRST PRIZE
- Frank Kaliati –
STATE ARMED ROBBERS SQUAD (SARS) ($75) – SECOND PRIZE
- Olude Peter
Sunday – ENDSARS, LAW MAKERS OR LAW BREAKERS ($50) – THIRD PRIZE
HONORABLE MENTIONS (5)
- Agada Patience
Anthony – JOURNEY TO HOPE
- Obiwuru Chidera
Rex – THE TOLL GATE OF DEATH
- Etumnu Ugochukwu
Bright – OUR MOTHERLAND WEPT!
- Mark Dave
– CHEEPING EAGLE
- Nwokeabia, Ifeanyi John
– HOW OUR LIGHTS WERE PUT OFF
NOTABLES (2)
- Chukwu Sunday
Abel – SPLIT GREEN FLAG
- 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.
