Fwd: The Okike Prize for Literature Award Ceremony Highlights : A Festival of Thanks

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Uche Osita <ucheositajames@gmail.com>
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2017
Subject: The Okike Prize for Literature Award Ceremony Highlights : A Festival of Thanks
To: jchiemerie.youtube1@blogger.com

The Okike prize award ceremony  held on the 8th  of July.

After receiving close to 400 submissions from Universities across Nigeria, Notably University of Lagos, ABU Zaria, OAU, University of Ibadan, Godfrey Okoye University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Benin and others. Three winners emerged.

For the prose category the winner was a student from the University of Abuja, Jonathan Duruguma for his short story 'For all seasons'.

For the Poetry category, Shade Mary-ann Olaoye  from the University of Nigeria for her poem 'A poem is to good for you Nsukka'.

Then for the Drama category, Aligwe Nneoha Ann from the Ebonyi State University for her drama 'Secrets'.

Also in attendance were other shortlisted people in the three categories from different universities.

The Okike prize initiative(OKI) in a bid to expand its focus and award deserving people who have shown remarkable zeal and meritorious service to the society presented awards of excellence to; Chief Ben Etiaba (Chairman of the Enugu Sports Club),

Professor Gab agu Gab, professor of International law ESUT,

Professor Chike Anibueze (who was unavoidable abscent), Barr. Obum Arum,

The dean of the Faculty of Arts Godfrey Okoye; Professor  Romanus Egudu and Professor Ike Ndolo of the University of Nigeria.

Also in attendance were Barrister Ndukwo Ogbuja Ndukwo and the Former Head of Civil service ; Sir Okwor Clement.

While we congratule our winners, we also encourage all shortlisted and longlisted persons. We appreciate you all for making this initiative a success.

We thank first God for all his mercies and grace that says us through all the hurdles of the planning. We thank (Hon)  Mr and Mrs O. J Uche for all their kindness and unrelenting support to this initiative. We thank Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Chinegwu for their support and sponsorship. We could not have one it without her help. We extend a hand of gratitude and appreciation to Mr and Mrs Onchie for their Support and contribution towards this initiative, to Bianca Uche for her support and sacrifice, To Mirabelle Uche (Mirabelles designs) for her support and contribution and to Mr and Mrs Udezue for all their contributions and support.  We extend a hand of gratitude to Prof. Chike Anibueze for his support and most appreciable contribution, as well as Prof Gabe Agu for his support and contribution. As well as Chief  Ben Etiaba for his support. We also give special thanks to Ngene Justice Abuchi (Former UNN SUG Cheif Judge) without whom the scope of the event would not have emerged, to Christian Tochukwu Onuora (President of the Nwokike Literary Club UNN) for his unrelenting support and sacrifice, to Vivian Asogwa for her fierce dedication, to Anthony Obidike Williams for managing the entire process , to Dozie Ogbu Kelechi for his stoic support and sacrifice, to Joshua Chizoma for managing  the submissions and other logistics, to Buter Daniel for his kind support, to  Kosoluchi for her dogged belief in the success of this initiative. To Adaolisa Onyekwelu for her kind support, to Sopuruchi Rufus for her support and sacrifice. To Ihuoma Stephen, Justice and Otti Chizitere (from the reformers UNN) for their spoken word presentations on the day of the event. To for his sacrifice and Nick Abugu for her resilience and sacrifice. Then to Real Dennis for his notable sponsorship (big shout out to reality concept). I do not in any small way forget any of my judges, Obi young Otosirieze and Chika Unigwe, even Okechukwu Ofili for all believing.

Together we have created history, and began the narrative of a story that is yet unfinished but one that has began in earnest. We are resolute that next year Prize would be better and the organization superior. All discrepancies and flaws in both the administration of the submissions email, poor reply rate, and allother inconsistencies in the planning as well as errors are mine. We hope to make history again next year. Thank you all once again.

Signed.
Uche Osita James.
Founder; The Okike prize for literature.