ANA FELICITATES WITH EMERITUS PROFESSOR FEMI OSOFISAN, FANA, FNAL, NNOM AT 75
ANA President, Dr. Camillus Ukah, has sent his hearty congratulations Professor Emeritus Femi Osofisan, on the occasion of his 75th birthday anniversary, describing him as a literary pillar, infallible mentor and dependable statesman.
Dr. Camillus in a congratulatory message released on Wednesday, June 16th 2021 by the Publicity Secretary (North), Umar Yogiza Jr, said, Emeritus Professor Femi Osofisan —a former President of ANA, PEN and Patron of PAWA has contributed beyond measure to the growth of Nigeria, Africa and World Literature through his mastery of all the four genres of literature – poetry, drama, prose, and literary criticism.
According to the message, “We are lucky —knowing you, mentoring by you and the world is a better place with you in it for these 75 years. Wishing you many happy returns! May you be comforted by God's positive presence in your life, and His guiding light. 75 is not a numbers, but a step into pure greatness! Have a fantastic birthday Sir.”
Dr. Camillus Chima Ukah finally prayed that the Almighty God grant Emeritus Professor Femi Osofisan longer life, clean health, wisdom and more strength to celebrate more fruitful years. Professor Osofisan, Nigeria’s most decorated literary icons, is a former President of ANA, PEN and Patron of PAWA. He is a recipient of numerous awards —winner of the First Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS) Prize for Independence Anniversary Essay. His first book of poetry, Minted Coins, won the ANA Poetry Prize and the Regional Commonwealth Poetry Award for a First Collection in 1987.
Morountodun and Other Plays won him the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) 1983 Award for Drama. He also won the 1993 ANA Award for Drama for his book, Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest. He made the shortlist for the prestigious USA-based Neustadt Prize in 2000. He is the only African to have received the World Literary Prize in Drama, the Thalia Laurel.
Professor Femi Osofisan, a critic, essayist, poet, dramatist and activist, has been honoured as an Officier de l’Ordre Nationale de Mérite, Rép. de France (1999), which he graciously received in 1999, and also as a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit in the Humanities (2004), the most prestigious merit-based award in Nigeria, which recognises the best of the best in various walks of life. He received this award in 2004. In 2006, he equally received the Fonlon-Nichols Prize for Literature and the Struggle for Human Rights (2006).
He has been honoured with Fellow, Nigerian Academy of the Arts [FNAL] (2006). Osofisan was also a Drama Consultant to the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture (Festac ’77), the Cultural Olympiad, 1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, and Movement for Mass Mobilization, Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), Abuja, Nigeria (1989). And one time General Manager and Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Lagos, Nigeria. Osofisan’s plays have been performed in many countries, where he has also held teaching or research fellowships, including Japan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Lesotho, China, USA, Canada, UK, France, South Africa; his plays are among the most produced.
Born on June 16, 1946, as Babafemi Adeyemi Osofisan in the Ogun State town of Erunwon. Professor Femi Osofisan has written works in all the four genres of literature – poetry, drama, prose, and literary criticism. He has four prose works to his name, over 60 plays, five books of poems, and several essays and papers. He bagged his first degree at the Department of Modern European Languages, University of Ibadan with honours in 1969. Did his postgraduate degree also in French at the Sorbonne between 1972 and 1973. And his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1974.
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