The evening started early with the arrival of guests from PIN (Poets In Nigeria) led by Eriata Oribhabor, President, PIN, in company of Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, author of Punctured Silence; Awodiya Funke, author of The Farmer’s Daughter; Olaleye Doyin Sunshine, a poet and PIN lead rep PIN Eleyele, Ibadan, Benjamin Terhile Torlafia; a Poet, Lawyer and PIN Rep Agyaragu, Nasarawa State and Bliss Akinyemi; a poet and PIN Reporter. Two hours before the slated time for the event, PIN stand was set up with various books while the DJ treated the early birds to old school music. Guests present took various pictures that were immediately uploaded on various social media platforms with the hash tag #NWA.
The red carpet started an hour behind schedule and lasted for an hour. The event proper commenced with Wofai Samuel (host), leading all present in the recital of the National Anthem, immediately followed by an opening prayer led by one of the evening’s guest. The evening proceeded with the recognition of Special Guests which included President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Denja Abdullahi; Eriata Oribhabor, President of PIN; Mr Lekan Otunfodunrin, Online Editor of the Nation Newspaper; Dino Melaye represented by his brother Tim Melaye, Jamiu Abiola, Ibitola Ojoye-Adebayo, winner of the Diaspora Writer 2016 Award and Chairman of the event, Senator Bode Olajumoke.
Artist, Olu Dare, thrilled the audience with his song about a Woman’s pride with a message that champions the dream of a better society, his performance was immediately followed by a five minutes’ welcome address by Prince Modest Diko, Initiator of the Nigerian Writers Award. In his speech, he elaborated on the importance of unity in our Nation and the need to say no to tribalism, he talked about the activities of the NWA team which included outreaches to schools in certain states in the Nation as well as providing school sandals to school children who walk barefoot to school in the Northern part of the country.
Onyeka Dabeluchukwu Olami, an eloquent young girl gave an expository speech on Cultural diversity, encouraging Nigerians to look beyond the differences of religion, customs, traditions and languages and live together in unity.
This was quickly followed by the first category of Awards presentation, presented by Chairman of the event to Sports Writer of the Year, Shina Oludare Charles of Goal.com; Feature Writer of the Year, Kemi Busari of Nigerian Bulletin; Business Writer of the Year, Femi Asu of Punch Newspaper.
Spoken Word performing artiste Ehijie Gabriel, popularly known as ArchAngel enchanted the guests with two of his poems, Scribbles of Mowgli and Phone Number just before the presentation of Special Recognition Awards presented to Bode Olajumoke by Mr Jamiu Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola and Denjah Abdullahi by Alhaji Waheed Olalekan who in his speech said ‘There’s a need for private investors to invest in creative writers and creative talents for the development of the Nation’. This was succeeded by the presentation of Award for the Fiction Writer of the year presented by Denja Abdullahi to Sally Kenneth Dadzie, author of the Fourth Finger and was received by her husband on her behalf.
The host, Wofai Samuel announced the launching of the NWTV/Magazine and Senator Bode Olajumoke pledged a donation of a hundred thousand Naira in support of the initiative, Ibitola Ojoye-Adebayo called for the support of people towards the activities of the Nigerian Writers Awards team and pledged a donation of seventy thousand Naira, Mr. Jamiu Abiola gave kudos to the designer of the magazine for its quality before pledging the sum of eighty-five thousand Naira, Eriata Orhibabor who had previously supported the Awards by sponsoring the Poetry categoty also pledged a sum of thirty thousand Naira in support of the new project, Alhaji Waheed Olalekan after cracking a joke about being a Civil servant refused to disclose his donation but pledged to support the initiative and assured the project will benefit more from the National Orientation Agency while Denjah Abdullahi who gave the letter of recommendation for the Nigerian Writers Awards said he was not going to make a donation to avoid going bankrupt as members of ANA reel out books on a daily basis.
The second Category of Awards were presented by Eriata Orhibabor to the: Nonfiction Writer of the Year, Nnaemeka N. Okere for his book, Blood at Noon; Advocacy Book of the Year, S is for Survivor written by Samira Haruna Sanusi; Historical Book of the Year, The President Who Never Ruled by Jamiu Abiola. Another round of Recognition Awards were presented, to Otunba Gani Adams by Mr Jide Johnson, Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. Bode Olajumoke presented a special recognition award to Senator Dino Melaye, author of the book, Antidotes to Corruption, who was unavoidably absent but represented by his brother Tim Melaye who in his speech said he appreciates writers and loves to see them celebrated because “the greatest thing we can deliver in life is knowledge”.
Mac Kelly Obison won the award for the Diaspora Writer of the Year, presented by Tim Melaye and it was received by his brother who said a brief thank you on behalf of his brother. Funke Akindele, although not present won the award for the Scriptwriter of the Year for her TV series Jenifa’s Diary. Media House of the Year Award TV, Print and Radio went to Channels Television, The Nation Newspaper and Metro FM respectively, while The Entertainment Writer of the Year Award was received by Alli Mutiat Omoniyi of Daily Time.
As the event progressed, Educationist, Dr. Mrs Margaret Ibru; Esther Ijewere, Social Activist/Initiator, Women of Rubies and Ibitola Ojoye-Adebayo, Multi Award Winning Author were given special recognition Awards presented by Bode Olajumoke. Bloggers were not left out as they were also rewarded in different categories such as the Fashion Blogger of The Year received by Adedayo Olubunmi Odubanjo of Fashionpeeva.com; Literary Blogger of the Year, received by Aniechi Edoro of brittlepaper.com; Supportive Blogger of the Year, received by Agbo Joseph ofAgbosblog.com and Entertainment Blogger of the Year received by Laila Ijeoma of Lailasblog.com. Ibitola Ojoye-Adebayo sponsored and Presented the Young Writer of the Year Award received by Quadri Zainab of Pulse.ng while the Romance Writer of the Year Award went to Ufuoma Otebele ofNIGERIAROMANCESTORIES.COM.
In a bid to keep up to time, there was no avenue for performances as slated on the programme of the event. The Poetry Prize was the next category of Award and were given by Eriata Oribhabor who sponsored the category. Tolu Akinyemi won the Poetry Writer of the Year Award, while Olayinka Samson Aremu won the Award of the Spoken Word Poet of the Year. Eriata Orhibabor won for the second time in a row, the award of the Poetry Promoter of the Year and his award was presented by Senator Bode Olajumoke.
Samson Mayowa Adeyemi was also given a special recognition presented by Yomi Otagbe. Simisola Ogunyinka claimed the award of Faith-based Writer of the Year; Simisola Opeodu bagged the Comic Writer of the Year Award; Okechukwu Ofili received the award for the Motivational Writer of the Year; Ezekiel Efeobhokhan won the award for the Campus Writer of the Year while Irianele Virtuous Oselumese won the Award of the Teenage Writer of the Year. Likewise, the Award for the Most Supportive Brand of the Year went to Etisalat Nigeria.
Twelve years old Queen Zainab Oyinkansola Adeyinka, face of LIZZY ADAMS 2017 mesmerized the audience with her speech canvassing for the support, education and training of the girl child. The last Award for the day went to Toluse Francis of EAT FIT/TOLUFRANCIS.com as Health Writer of the Year.
The evening turned out beautiful, entertaining, informative and educative. The event was wrapped up with a vote of thanks delivered by Prince Modest Diko after which guests exchanged pleasantries and took lots of photographs to keep in anticipation of the next Nigerian Writers Awards.
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