ANA Announces Ikeogu Poetry Prize for Teen Poets, set to Rejuvenate Teen Authorship Scheme of the Association

 

ANA ANNOUNCES IKEOGU POETRY PRIZE FOR TEEN POETS, SET TO REJUVENATE TEEN AUTHORSHIP SCHEME OF THE ASSOCIATION

In a bid to honor, immortalize and promote the literary ideology of the 2017 Winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, the Late Ikeogu Oke who was born 53 years ago and made his mark as a poet laureate before his sudden death in 2018. Ikeogu Oke’s wife, Mrs. Nneoma Ikeogu (the sponsor) through a letter addressed to the current national President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Camillus Chima Ukah has instituted a poetry prize named after her late husband for budding teen poets across the nooks and corners of the country.

It would be recalled that ANA, in the condolence message written on November 26, 2018 by the immediate past ANA National President, Mallam Denja Abdulahi lauded the Late Ikeogu Oke for his enduring commitment and legacy to the development of indigenous poetry and his active participation in several notable activities of the Association (ANA) in recent times. Ikeogu Oke Poetry Prize is another literary contribution of the Late Ikeogu Oke to the largest writers’ body in the whole of Africa even after his death.

On the purpose of instituting the Prize, the letter addressed to ANA President, Mr. Camillus Chima Ukah,   quoted Mrs Nneoma Ikeogu as saying that Ikeogu’s family instituted this prize in honor of her late husband, Ikeogu Oke (Winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2017) who passed away on November 24 2018. Ikeogu Oke was also a frontline Nigerian poet and a worthy member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). The excellence of his art and character requires a project that will constantly inspire his country (particularly the young) to do great things.”

The Ikeogu Oke Poetry Prize will also revitalize/boost the morale of the teen authorship scheme/Young Writers Mentoring Project of the Association.

On the requirement for participation, below are the guidelines for any interested entrant;

1.         The prize is open to only senior secondary school students (SS1 to SS3) across Nigeria. Participants will show evidence of institution and level of education.

 

2.         The best three (3) entries will receive prizes: 1st position (N100, 000 + books), 2nd position (N70, 000 + books), and 3rd position (N50, 000 + books).

 

3.         The following category of students are excluded: (a) relatives of the sponsor, (b) relatives of the officers of ANA’s National Executive Council, (c) relatives of the officers of ANA’s state EXCOs, (d) and relatives of the members of the jury.

 

4.         The timeframe is as follows:  Call for Entries (August 2020), Preliminary Stage of Competition (September 2020), Final Stage of Competition/Award Ceremony (October/November 2020).

 

5.         Stage 1: Each competitor will submit a single poem of 10 lines (typewritten, Times New Roman font 12), to ikeoguokeprize@gmail.com, on or before Saturday, 12th September, 2020.Stage 2: To determine the originality of the best 5 entries, each competitor (in the best 5) will write a second poem under the supervision of a person appointed by the jury. The second set of poems will be judged to determine the winners.

 

6.         Each state chapter/branch of ANA will mobilize participation in its state.

Ikeogu Oke was born on May 23, 1967 in Jos, Plateau state; few years after Nigeria had gained her independence and also became a republic. A native of Abiriba in Abia State, Ikeogu Oke was said to have died in Abuja at the National Hospital from Pancreatic Cancer.

 

Ikeogu Oke Oke attended the University of Calabar and also the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state. While he was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he bagged an MA in Literature. Before that, he was awarded a B.A degree in English and Literary Studies at the University of Calabar. Before his death, the book which took him 27 years to write was adjudged a work that speaks to an intense commitment to innovation, tenacity in a way that brings out delight and engagement. The Judges that handed the prize to him described it as a bold and wonderful experiment. EU, Netherlands Envoys hail Gov. Ugwuanyi’s giant strides Ikeou Oke was a poet and a Journalist before his death.

 

As a Journalist, he wrote columns for different national dailies, and as a poet, he wrote several poems which won him the coveted Prize in 2017. To his credit are literary works classified under adult and children’s literature which include “When I was Born” (2002), Fourth Dimension Publishing Company, Nigeria; “Salute Without Guns” (2009), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria; “In the Wings of Waiting” (2012), Manila Publishing company, Nigeria. All these works are for adults. Varsity don hails Delta-based author His children’s literature include “The Lion and the Monkey” (2014), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria; and “The Tortoise and the Princess” (2015), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria The renowned poet, known for performing his poems or appearing in functions in his native Ohafia war costume, was said to have had a premonition about his death owing to his epitaph which he wrote on his twitter handle @Okesisi in September 2018 which reads, “My Epitaph. Here lies a man who loved virtue and art, And gave to both his fortunes and his heart. Ikeogu Oke (1967 –).”

 

Ikeogu’s Poetry Works

•           Where I was Born (2002), Fourth Dimension Publishing Company, Nigeria.

•           Salute Without Guns (2009), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria.

•           In the Wings of Waiting (2012), Manila Publishing company, Nigeria.

•           The Heresiad (2017), Manila Publishing Company, Nigeria

Children's literature

•           The Lion and the Monkey (2014), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria.

•           The Tortoise and the Princess (2015), Manila Publishers Company, Nigeria.