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).