By Chukwudi Nweje, Lagos
Two winners, Zaynab Bobi and Emmanuel Mgbabor, have emerged at the Nigerian NewsDirect inaugural Folorunsho Editor’s Poetry Prize.
The prize named after the late Publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr Samuel Folorunsho Ibiyemi, is dedicated to the tradition of upholding and supporting poetry in Nigeria through the Poetry Column of Nigerian NewsDirect.
Announcing the winners Sunday, the Curator of Poetry Column of the publication, Pamilerin Jacob, said four poets – Zaynab Bobi, Emmanuel Mgbabor, Prosper C. Ìféányí and Hassan A. Usman – initially emerged as finalists before Zaynab Bobi, Emmanuel Mgbabor emerged winners.
“Only poets published in the Poetry Column in the year under consideration are eligible for this prize. That is, poets published during our unsolicited period (Jan – Sept). The two winners are announced on the last day of the year annually, December 31,” Pamilerin Jacob said.
Before his death in September 2021, the late Dr Ibiyemi was an avid supporter of the Nigerian poetry community. He sponsored prizes such as Nigerian NewsDirect Poetry Prize 2020, Nigerian NewsDirect Chapbook Prize 2022, and the Poetry Column.
“Dr Ibiyemi was passionate about being a solution provider in all he did. It is in that spirit that we instituted this prize,” Jacob added.
In her response to winning the Folorunsho Editor’s Poetry Prize, Zaynab Bobi said, “I’m beyond thrilled. I would like to use this opportunity to say a prayer for the late Dr. Samuel Folorunsho Ibiyemi. May his soul rest in abundant peace. Amin.
“Also, I would like to send my gratitude to the editors of Poetry Column-NND, Pamilerin Jacob and co, for their hard work and dedication to the Nigerian literary community.”
Responding, Executive Director of NewsDirect, Mr Mathew Ibiyemi, reiterated the commitment of the media company to promoting literary excellence, and assured of increased support for the literary and poetry community in 2024.