WRITERS COMMEND NAL FELLOWSHIP CONFERMENT ON PROF. REMI RAJI, PROF. GBEMI ADEOTI, JAHMAN ANIKULAPO
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW Global) has congratulated Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade (Remi Raji), Professor Gbemisola Aderemi Adeoti, and Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo on their recent conferment of Fellowships by the prestigious Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the President of the Society, Wole Adedoyin, on Thursday.
Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, widely known as Remi Raji, is a globally acclaimed Nigerian poet and scholar. Currently a professor of English and African Literatures at the University of Ibadan, Raji has authored several poetry collections, including Webs of Remembrance, Lovesong for My Wasteland, and Sea of My Mind. His poems have been translated into multiple languages, and he has held fellowships in renowned institutions across Europe, Africa, and the United States.
Remi Raji’s dedication to literature extends beyond writing and teaching; he has served as the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Secretary of the Nigerian PEN Centre, and the pioneering Coordinating Secretary of PEN African Centres. His inclusion as a Fellow of NAL is a recognition of his decades-long impact on Nigerian and African literary discourse.
Professor Gbemisola Aderemi Adeoti, another celebrated recipient, is a scholar of literature and a distinguished poet. He currently teaches at the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Adeoti is the author of Naked Soles, a poetry collection that earned national acclaim and was at one time recommended by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for study.
Adeoti has served in various academic leadership roles, including as Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at OAU. His latest poetry collection, Stoning the Wind, continues to receive literary praise, cementing his legacy as one of Nigeria’s foremost academic poets.
Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo, recipient of an Honorary Fellowship, is a veteran journalist and cultural advocate. A former Arts Editor and Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Anikulapo has spent over four decades advancing Nigeria’s cultural heritage through media, performance, and advocacy. He is the founder of Culture Caucus Advocate (CCA) and Programme Chair of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA).
As Director of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival and convener of the Lagos Book & Art Festival, Anikulapo has championed platforms for critical conversations in the arts. His recognition by NAL reflects his immense contributions to media, literature, and cultural development in Nigeria.
The fellowship conferment was announced in a memo by Professor Sola Akinrinade, FNAL, President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, following the meeting of the College of Fellows held on July 8, 2025. The announcement included a list of distinguished scholars and cultural figures across disciplines such as linguistics, classical studies, and media.
The investiture ceremony is scheduled to hold on August 14, 2025, at the University of Lagos during the Academy’s 27th Convocation. The SYNW urges all stakeholders in the literary and cultural communities to join in celebrating this remarkable milestone for Remi Raji, Gbemi Adeoti, and Jahman Anikulapo. Their contributions to Nigerian scholarship and culture continue to inspire generations of writers and thinkers.