The orchestra of the Rivers State Public Primary Schools opened the event with the National Anthem; then the followed with a rendition of "Ijoba Orun." During the children session, everyone is Aunty and Uncle, well, that's what the children understand better.
Aunty Koko apologised that the event started late. "You are a very important part of what we are doing and we take a section of the festival that concerns you very importantly. I was a child like you in this city. I've sat where you've sit in this city, that's why I have a heart for the section of our work that involves children, that's why we bring role models to read to you. We bring the Governor also once a year to read to you. I hope you enjoy this session," she said welcoming the children to the event.
Children were asked about their experience during the festival; they had interesting things to say. Chidera, 9, said "The workshop I attended was the creative workshop, and I learnt that I should read books. I read the Wicked Old Woman." I learnt that it was good to give to one another." Daniel Mattias, also 9 said, "I leant how to paint and draw."
Polly Alakija, one of the facilitators of the creative workshops read from the People Who Make Our History Series: Herbert Macaulay. The students asked questions and also shared their lessons from the book with the audience. After this, there was a Question and Answer session with Aunty Polly.
On her experience with the children, she said "It was great fun, it was quite tiring. We had great fun. I had two days with each group. It normally takes at least a year to get a book together, the actual putting the book together and our challenge was to put the story together in two days."
Alakija's love for illustration started as a young child. She said "I knew a lot of illustrators, painters as a child. To me a book is like a box of magic, it is the same reason I love painting and film because you never know what you will find."
Prizes were awarded to the children who won the Essay Competition for 2012. "They win a grant to support their education, books to build their personal libraries," said Kalango. The Governor of Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi presented certificates to the winners. The winners, Echikunwoke Chinasa Kenneth, Ogunkale Oluwatamilore, Ubah Chidinma Vivian beamed to the camera as they shook hands with the Governor.
The Governor emphasised the importance of education and informed the audience on the programmes that the state is working on. "Education is key to us and it is important that you take education seriously. We are trying to take our government schools to a greater standard. The teachers will have the minimum qualification of NCE. All primary schools must have ICT, all including the ones that belong to the Rivers State Government. We are trying to renovate our schools, to furnish them. We are sending a bill to the House that it is a crime not to send your child to school. If you do not send your child to school, you will go to prison for a minimum of three months. We will not collect fees, just send your children to school. I have leaked to you the secrets of government and we are working towards achieving these objectives... I congratulate you all for coming, you all look exciting and energetic. I wish all of you the best of luck," he said.
There was a performance of a play by the children. The play focused on the only Queen that ever was in the Niger Delta area, Queen Kambassa. The children made use of songs and dance, to emphasise the theme of the play which matched the theme for the festival: Women and Literature.
The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, the official sponsors of the Children Event also gave their speech. They presented books to the children throughout the festival. The agency is aimed at driving development in Rivers state.
The children all went home, smiling, with gift bags with books to build their personal libraries.
The evening was the poetry feast with poetry performances from different poets, established and upcoming. Biokpo West was an highlight; he rendered the poem "Noah's Ark" in pidgin which got the audience pondering yet laughing. We will publish the poem on the blog in the coming days.
Pa Gabriel Okara who was the special guest at the event addressed the young writers. "This is pleasing and encouraging, and makes me think that Nigeria has a future. We are lucky to have somebody like Mrs Kalango here, who would make this possible with her creative thinking, imagination. We are now breeding a crop of young men and women in the art of creative writing, which means a crop of young men and women who will speak the truth at all time without fear. She is nurturing a nucleus of thoughts combined," he said.
Koko Kalango thanked everyone who was part of the event, and officially brought the Garden City Literary Festival 2012 to a close. She said "We thank all of you who are here, for every visitor, participant who has been a part of what we are doing...you are the reason why this is holding."
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