Entry opens for Christopher Okigbo Poetry Prize

Yusuff, Uthman Adekola

Call for entries for the annual Christopher Okigbo Poetry Prize has been released on various social media platforms to solicit poetry works from students across Nigerian higher institutions.

According to the release, the contest is open to students of any higher institution in Nigeria, and submissions are allowed on any theme.

As also stated in the release, prospective entrants are to send in ‘poems of not more than 40 lines, as an attachment (.doc or .docx), to okigbopoetry17@gmail.com’

‘We are looking out for originality, creativity and topicality of content. The contest is in two phases— the Entry Stage and the Performance Stage. Contestants who make the shortlist in the Entry Stage shall be invited to perform their works.’

‘Entrants must be ready to attend the Okigbo Poetry Night/Festival to be held on January 16.

Note also: you are required to include your name, school, department and level in the body of the mail. The subject of the mail should read: Okigbo Poetry Prize ’19. Deadline: January 8.’

The president of the club, Uthman Yusuff, explained the purpose of the club, saying:

‘The Okigbo Poetry Club which is a platform under the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies, University of Ibadan (NASELS UI) is a grooming ground for the next set of Nigerian young poets set to re-carve the creative, social and political space for the general good.’