Winners Announced: Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation Series

The Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation (SLCF) made the first Call for Entries into the SLCF Writers’ Series in 2012 with the ultimate aim of encouraging young Nigerian writers (based in Nigeria) of imaginative children’s literature to produce stories that will entertain, enlighten and appeal to children, as well as encourage them to think in novel ways. Entries were received from all over Nigeria.

Kings' College Students at the event

At the Foundation’s official public presentation, which recently held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, the 2012 winners of the SLCF Writers’ Series were announced. The Chair of the occasion was the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, ably represented by Dr. Ayodele Owoade, who during his speech emphasized the importance of encouraging creativity in Nigerian writers. 

Dr. Ayodele Owoade

While speaking, the Founder, Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi, renowned Nigerian veteran educationist, administrator and writer, gave a breakdown of the Foundation’s activities in 2012 and also foregrounded the importance of encouraging young writers.

Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi

Speaking on behalf of other judges at the formal presentation of the Splendid Literature & Culture, Ms. Sola Alamutu said arriving at the winning entries wasn’t an easy task, especially because of the high quality of entries received. “The Call for Entries into the Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation Series debuted in 2012, so, we expect that more schools will participate in the future. Of all the entries received, some just couldn’t pass at all because they didn’t meet the criteria set when the call for entries was announced. Stories that were not written, bearing in mind children readers were automatically disqualified”, Alamutu said. 

Four winners have emerged for the 2012 Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation Series Competition, and they are Chimee Adioha, Ihejirika U. Charles, Ononye Odinaka Emmanuella, and Nnani Tochukwu. The winning stories will be published in an anthology; the authors will have public presentations of their works, with readings, book signings and tours arranged for them; they will also be entitled to royalty. 

The judges of the 2012 competition were Mr. Toyin Akinosho, Secretary General of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) and 2011 CNN Winner of the African Journalist of the Year; Mr. Dagga Tolla, poet and musician; and Ms. Sola Alamutu, Winner of the ANA/Atiku Abubakar Prize for Children Literature in 2004. 

A Cross-section of the students

Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation ensures that books written by young writers for children readers satisfy parents who continue to buy books for their children, and the children who read them. The Foundation also has a sub-project which is to run English Language and writing workshops for students in public schools in the long holidays at centres designated by each state.