have named Akin Bello, a former Chairman of the Oyo
State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA),
as the winner of the fifth edition of the prestigious prize in
Literature.
Bello was crowned by Professor Wole Soyinka, assisted by
the board of the Lumina Foundation, the organisers of the
prize, Governor of River State, Rotimi Amaechi &
Globacom's Head of GloWorld, Titi Ebinisi, at the grand
finale of the award at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island,
Lagos on Saturday.
The fifth edition of the award, sponsored by the National
Carrier, Globacom, was keenly contested by three authors,
Bello, Othuke Ominibohs and Toyin Abiodun, whose entries
were considered the best three of the total of 163 works
submitted from across Africa.
One of the judges of the Prize, Professor Olu Obafemi, a
prolific playwright, novelist and poet, who has himself
published 14 scholarly and 15 creative books, formally
announced the winner, who was promptly presented the
much coveted trophy and his cheque.
The winner, Akin Bello, was born in Lagos in 1950, and
educated at Oyo, Ghana and the University of Ife, (now
Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife, where he obtained a
B.Sc. (Hons) (Pol. Science) in the 2nd Class (Upper)
Division in 1975.
A widely traveled man with a richly diversified work
experience, Bello is currently an Executive Director of a
Non-Governmental Organisation in Ibadan. He was the
Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of ANA for four years
between 2008 and 2012.
Before now, Bello had published three novels and a poetry
collection. His first play, 'Egbon of Lagos' has now won him
recognition and fame at the Wole Soyinka Prize for
Literature in Africa.
In his remarks, Professor Soyinka thanked the Lumina
Foundation and its partners, including Globacom for
organizing the grand event and making it a success.
In a goodwill message read on his behalf, Globacom's
Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, said that "Globacom is
delighted to be part of the successful execution of the
project, which honours one of the world's biggest literary
giants, Professor Wole Soyinka and seeks to promote
excellence in the literary arts on the continent of Africa."
Dr. Adenuga said, "As a teacher, role model, social activist
and advocate, Professor Wole Soyinka has directly
impacted millions of lives on the continent of Africa and
beyond. We are deeply honoured to be part of a project like
this, which celebrates this living legend and seeks to
encourage the coming generation to aspire to attain such
academic excellence in the literary world.
In her remarks, Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel, the Chairperson
of the Board of Trustees of Lumina Foundation, equally
thanked all the partners of the organization, without whose
support the project might not have been a huge success
that it has been.
The grand finale of the prize was graced by other literary
icons, including renowned playwright and poet, John
Pepper Clark, a former President of the Association of
Nigerian Authors (ANA), and loyal protégé of Professor
Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, renowned Professor of International
Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, who delivered the
keynote address, and many other distinguished scholars.
Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a biennial
event staged to recognize the best literary work produced
by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation
in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has
since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize. This
year's Prize was dedicated to the drama genre.
The panel of five judges for the Prize is drawn from
Uganda, South Africa, Mali, Nigeria and Algeria.
Guests were entertained by the Steve Rhodes Orchestra
which reeled out tunes in different genres, cutting across
old and contemporary. Also, multi-talented instrumentalist
and Glo ambassador, Bez added spice to the event.
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