SYNW felicitates with Diipo Fagunwa (the only surviving son of the late D.O.Fagunwa) on his birthday

SYNW FELICITATES WITH DIIPO FAGUNWA (THE ONLY SURVIVING SON OF THE LATE D.O.FAGUNWA) ON HIS BIRTHDAY

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) has felicitated with Mr. Diipo Fagunwa, the only heir to the throne of the Late D.O Fagunwa’s literary dynasty over his birthday celebration.

In a statement signed by the Society’s President, Wole Adedoyin on Tuesday in Ibadan, said the organization joined Mr. Diipo Fagunwa’s family, friends and writers in celebrating the only surviving son of the Late D.O Faguwa,  whose father’s contributions to the Yoruba language and literature has brought about great development and transformation to the country’s literary industry.

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) also congratulated the celebrant on his latest publication titled ‘Ìfẹ́wùmí: The Travails of Inúlayéwà’. a novel, which is dedicated to the blessed memory of his parents, Daniel Ọlọ́runfẹ́mi and Elizabeth Adébánkẹ̀ (fondly called Ṣayọ̀adé by her husband) Fágúnwà will be launched on Tuesday 28th April 2020.

According to the release, “On the occasion of your birthday, we wish you many more fulfilling years of peaceful service in good health, happiness, and all-round wellness. Happy birthday! You have been a great leader for our community. We wish you God’s continued guidance, blessing, long life, and prosperity. We pray that the days ahead bring you more of God’s strength as well as glory, honor, and peace! We are glad to celebrate your special day with you.

SYNW finally lauded Mr. Diipo Fagunwa for his efforts in promoting and sustaining the literary legacy of his late father, the Late Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa of blessed memory.

Anambra Young Writers To Mark World Poetry Day With Achebe's Death Day Remembrance

ANAMBRA YOUNG WRITERS TO MARK WORLD POETRY DAY WITH ACHEBE'S DEATH DAY REMEMBRANCE

By SYNW Media

Young writers in Anambra State under the umbrella of Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra Chapter) have registered their resolve to celebrate this year's World Poetry Day with Chinua Achebe's death day rememberance.

This was contained in a statement released by the State Coordinator of the group, author Izunna Okafor, regarding the association's 2020 World Poetry Day Celebration.

He noted that World Poetry Day, which comes up annually on 21st March is a day set aside by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during her 30th Annual Conference held in Paris in the year 1999, for celebrating poetry all over the world.

This annual celebration, according to him, is not only significant, owing to the enormous import of poetry to humanity; but also coincidental to the death day of one of the world's most renowned writer —Chinua Achebe who died on 21st March, 2013.

He said the association has been in the forefront of remembering and celebrating Achebe and his works since his death, especially through the annual Chinua Achebe Literary Festival which the group holds every 16th November (Achebe's birthday) in honour of the legend.

This cause, he said, the association would want to consolidate on, thereby resolving to mark the 2020 poetry day together with his death day.

While disclosing that Anambra Chapter of the association has been having its monthly reading on third Saturday of every month; Okafor, who is a multiple award-winnig author and journalist further revealed that this month's reading will equally hold that same day, being also the third Saturday in March.

The three-in-one event, according to him, will hold at the Prof. Kenneth Dike Central E-Library, Awka, Anambra State Capital, starting at 9.am.

Acknowledging that the event is free and open to all, Okafor who is also the National Secretary General of the association, called on writers (both published and unpublished), as well as literary lovers and enthusiasts to take part in the event.

He said those who wish to make further enquiries regarding the event should do so via: synwanambrachapter@g­mail.com or 08163938812

"World Poetry Day is celebrated globally to acknowledge the role of poetry in every culture and every country of the planet. The day also recognizes and celebrates poetry as the most valuable asset of humane cultures and languages.

"The day also admires the role of poetry in bridging cultural differences and bringing communities closer. It commemorates the poets for speaking out on cultural and social issues through poetry; inspiring and encouraging millions.
Many people celebrate the day in different ways.

"And that is why we, the young writers in Anambra State, Achebe's home state, have decided to celebrate this year's edition in a special way, reminding the world also that it is exactly seven years the legend left the dropped his mighty pen," Okafor in his world.

SYNW Appoints Angelica Chinecherem Uwaezuoke as SYNW Coordinator in UNN

SYNW APPOINTS ANGELICA CHINECHEREM UWAEZUOKE AS SYNW COORDINATOR IN UNN

In order to achieve SYNW’s aim of promoting creative writing and book reading among Nigerian students between the ages of 10 and 35 in our various universities, the Society of Young Nigerian Writers has appointed Angelica Chinecherem Uwaezuoke as Coordinator of the writers’ body in the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

In a statement made available to pressmen today, Wole Adedoyin, the National President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) said, Angelica Chinecherem Uwaezuoke will be responsible for connecting students with SYNW’s resources, organizing monthly readings, workshops, competitions with support from individuals, corporate bodies and the National body, while also supporting them in ways that help promote reading culture in UNN and enhance their literary career.

We look forward to seeing the initiatives that Angelica Chinecherem Uwaezuoke introduces and continues at the campus,” Adedoyin said.

Angelica Chinecherem Uwaezuoke is a fiction writer and content creator who hails from Umuogele Amuda Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State. She is in her penultimate year at the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka where she studies Medicine and Surgery.

As a child, Angelica was noticed to put down her imaginations of the world around her into writing for which extra efforts where made to encourage her to continue in this path. Hibaya Book Club, a unique book reading club which she runs, aims to revive the exciting experience of reading amongst young people.

Her masterpiece, VERNONIA , published on OkadaBooks brought her into limelight.

Before this publication, several of her works have appeared in bulletins, Opera news hub and the maiden anthology of LOGISS Teen Authors Creativity Centre.

She is currently working on a second book- Black Faced Two-timer- which shall be published in the near future.

Angelica is a member of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) Enugu chapter, where she is the UNN Coordinator.

Her role model in prose writing is Chinua Achebe whose literary work seeks to preserve and nurture the African culture and heritage. She uses her stories to expose societal ills, discourage dishonesty, promote hard work and advance national unity.

SYNW finally urges other students who are interested in starting SYNW Chapters in their various universities to send their Letter of expression of interest to woleadedoyin@gmail.com or Whatsapp @ 08072673852

SYNW Felicitates with Odia Ofeimun on his 70th Birthday

SYNW FELICITATES WITH ODIA OFEIMUN ON HIS 70^TH BIRTHDAY

The Society of Young Nigerian Writer (SYNW) has felicitated with the former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Odia Ofeimun, on his 70th birthday.

This was contained in a congratulatory message issued and signed by the President of the Society, Wole Adedoyin on Monday in Ibadan.

SYNW in her statement enjoined Mr. Odia Ofeimun’s family, friends, literary associates, and well-wishers to celebrate this milestone of him attaining the joyous age of seventy in good health and sound mind.

According to the Statement, Mr. Odia Ofeimun is the best leader anyone could ask for. We are very proud of him and his literary achievements. He has been a literary role model and an example of a great literary personality to this generation, and we are proud to hold him as someone worthy of emulation.

SYNW finally prayed that the Almighty God will grant Mr. Odia Ofeimun longer life, good health and more strength to celebrate more fruitful years.

Odia Ofeimun (born 16 March 1950) is a Nigerian poet and polemicist, the author of many volumes of poetry, books of political essays and on cultural politics, and the editor of significant two anthologies of Nigerian poetry. His work has been widely anthologized and translated and he has read and performed his poetry internationally. 

Odia Ofeimun was born in Iruekpen-Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, in 1950. He worked as a news reporter, factory labourer and civil servant before studying Political Science at the University of Ibadan, where his poetry won first prize in the University Competition of 1975. That year his work appeared in the anthology Poems of Black Africa, edited by Wole Soyinka. 

Ofeimun also worked as an administrative officer in the Federal Public Service Commission, as a teacher, as private (political) secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria, and as a member of the editorial board of The Guardian Newspapers in Lagos. He studied at Oxford University on a Commonwealth fellowship. Returning to Nigeria at the annulment of the 1993 election, he wrote columns for The Guardian On Sunday, the Nigerian Tribune, as well as contributing to many other newspapers. He was chairman of the editorial board of the defunct daily, A.M. News, as well as The News and Tempo magazines. 

Ofeimun was publicity secretary (1982–84), general secretary (1984–88) and president (1993–97) of the Association of Nigerian Authors. He was also designated advisor to PEN Nigeria Centre and is a founding member of the Pan African Writers' Association. 

Ofeimun is the author of more than 40 works. His published collections of poetry include The Poet Lied (1980), A Handle for The Flutist (1986), Dreams At Work and London Letter and Other Poems (2000). His poems for dance drama, Under African Skies (1990) and Siye Goli - A Feast of Return (1992), were commissioned and performed across the UK and Western Europe by Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble in the early 1990s, and his most recent poem for dance drama, Nigeria The Beautiful, has been staged through major Nigerian cities to wide acclaim.

Awards

In 2010 Ofeimun received the Fonlon-Nichols Award for literary excellence and propagation of Human Rights, which was conferred on him by the African Literature Association.

Selected bibliography

Poetry

• The Poet Lied (1980)
• A Handle for The Flutist (1986)
• Under African Skies (Lagos: Hornbill House, 1990; ISBN 978-0951677407)
• London Letter and Other Poems (Lagos: Hornbill House, 2000; ISBN 978-9783527041)
• Dreams At Work and Other Poems (Lagos: Hornbill House, 2000; ISBN 978-9783527003)
• A Feast of Return (Lagos: Hornbill House, 2000)
• Go Tell the Generals (2010)
• A Boiling Caracas and Other Poems (2008)
• I Will Ask Questions With Stones If They Take My Voice (2008)
• Nigeria The Beautiful: Poems for Dance Drama (2011)

Anthologies

• Lagos of the Poets
• Salute to the Master Builder

Cultural politics

• A House of Many Mansions (Lagos: Hornbill House, 2012: ISBN 978-978-49005-8-4)
• Impossible Dream of the African Author
• Media Nigeriana
• In Search of Ogun: Soyinka In Spite of Nietzsche (Lagos: Hornbill House, 2014; ISBN 978-978-49005-9-1)

Politics

• Taking Nigeria Seriously
• June Twelvers' Dilemma
• When Does a Civil War Come To an End?
• This Conference Must Be Different