By Lois Otse Adams
The commissioning of the Femi Osofisan Secretariat at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Mpape -Abuja, yesterday held alongside the 4th and Special Mbari Series.
The Mbari Series is a Monthly event, anchored by the Association of Nigerian Authors under the leadership of the Association’s President, Camilus Ukah and hosted by Prof. Udenta Udenta
The series which was established by Prof. Chinua Achebe to bring creative minds together beyond the writers association, was revived after successive administrations of the association as Ukah took it upon himself to not only reawaken the legacy of our forefathers but to build on their legacies and preserve them for younger generations.
The special series and the commissioning witnessed top literary creative minds, and professional writers of international reputes such as; Amir Musulumi of Idoma Land, Prof. Alhaji Shamsuddin Amali (the Royal father of the day and the commissioner of the Osofisan Secretariat, emeritus Prof. Femi Osofisan and his dear wife who happens to be the foremost computer professor, Prof. Olu Obafemi, Prof. Tanuri Ojaide, Prof Mallam Albishak, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof. Idris Almali, Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, Dr. Obari Gomba, a multi award winning writer whose work, ‘The Lilt of the Rebel’ won the PAWA 2021 Poetry Prize and he was the home coming guest writer and book of May Special Mbari Series.
Others are Greg Mbajiorgu, an actor- -dramatist, exponent of environmental poetry and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theathre Arts and Film Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Dr. Joan Oji, a famous Editor and literary enthusiast, amidst other acclaimed Authors and literary enthusiasts.
The Writers village is consistently taking on literary heat, which shows that the labour of past and present ANA heroes is yielding positive results in preparing young minds. Recall that Professor Femi Osofison, is a playwright, poet and winner of Thalia Prize.
High point of the event was where supporters of the Authors’ Association stormed the Writers Village to give Ukah moral support and a befitting entertainment for guests.
