. . . Awe, Alkali, Ezeigbo, Ker as keynote speakers
Ahead of the November 29th commencement date for the ‘Efuru@50’ celebrations, the Chairman of the National Organising Committee (NOC), Dr. Wale Okediran has said that they are pressing solidly ahead to ensure a hitch-free event in the six selected cities.
Okediran, who stated this in a statement to Blueprint in Abuja recently, noted that the golden jubilee of the novel written in 1966 by the late Flora Nwapa and published by Heinemann, would be loudly celebrated in Lagos, Maiduguri, Abuja, Enugu, Owerri and Oguta from November 29 to December 11 under the theme, ‘Efuru@50: A Celebration of Flora Nwapa and African Women Literature.’
He said: “As part of efforts to ensure a hitch-free celebration, local organising committees (LOCs), under the supervision of eminent scholars, have been constituted to aid the work of the NOC.
“Scholar and poet, Professor Hope Eghagha of the Department of English, University of Lagos, is head of the LOC in Lagos while Dr. Razinat Mohammed is overseeing preparations at the University of Maiduguri.
“Vicky Sylvester of the English Department, University of Abuja is head of the local organising committee in the FCT, Prince Paschal Mebuge heads that of Enugu and Mr. Camilus Ukah is chair of the committee in Owerri.”
“Also, keynote speakers including Professor Bolanle Awe (Lagos), Prof. David Ker (Abuja), Prof. Zaynab Alkali (Maiduguri) and Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo (Enugu) have been contacted.
“Not willing to leave anything to chance, members of the NOC including Dr. Okediran, Prince Pascal Mebuge, Barrister Uzoma Nwakuche (Nwapa’s first son), Chinyere Obi-Obasi, Salamatu Sule, Akintayo Abodunrin, Isaac Ogezi and Ikeogu Oke have also paid courtesy visits to key stakeholders.
“The NOC, has amongst others, visited the managements of UNILAG, UNIABUJA, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Abuja, UNIMAID and IMT Enugu among other places,” he stated.
Okediran added that personalities and organisations including the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, NTA Enugu, Radio Nigeria Enugu, Ford Foundation Lagos, Nigerian Breweries Lagos, Goethe Institute Lagos, British Council Lagos and Chief Victor Umeh in Enugu have also been visited to seek their cooperation.
“Happily, the authorities of UNILAG, UNIABUJA, UNIMAID, IMT Enugu, NTA Abuja (for the use of NTA Arena for the Children’s Carnival), NTA Enugu, Radio Nigeria Enugu, Ford Foundation and Nigerian Breweries have since confirmed their support.
“Similarly, eminent Nigerians including the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, ex-military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), Gen T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd), Bishop Mathew Kukah, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senate Leader, Mohammed Ndume and Ministers of Education, Information and Culture, Mines, Women Affairs, Transport and Communications among others have been contacted for support,” he pointed out.
Disclosing what else needed to be done before the conference opens on November 29, Dr. Okediran said schools participating in the literary competition would soon be confirmed while copies of ‘Efuru’ would be distributed to them.
He urged other individuals and corporate Nigeria to come on board and join in the celebration of both ‘Efuru’ and its writer, Nwapa, an assistant registrar at the University of Lagos between 1962 and 1964, a visiting Professor at the University of Maiduguri and three time commissioner in the East Central State.
The ‘Efuru@50’ celebration will feature discourse and paper presentations, symposia, children’s carnival, writing competitions and drama sketches from the novel. The grand finale has been scheduled for Oguta, Imo State the birthplace of the author on Saturday December 10, 2016 with a Cultural Festival.
