Roseben Anyanwu has emerged winner of the 8th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast, with a winning cash prize of ₦100,000.
Roseben Anyanwu’s poem: “Roma” topped the list for the adult category at the event organised by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria to mark the World Poetry Day on March 21, 2018.
Also, Oko Owoicho’s poem “We will sing water” came second with a total prize money of ₦75,000 while the third (cash) prize of ₦50,000 went to Rilwan Adelaja for his poem “The Cyclist”.
Seven other poets from the category got the sum of ₦25,000 each as consolation prizes.
Similarly, from the Junior category including secondary schools, Ameerah Adunola from Government Secondary school, Dutse, emerged overall winner for her poem, “Path Way” and was awarded ₦50,000.
Praise Acha, from African Child College Abuja emerged first runner up with her poem “The Path” was given ₦30,000. Gift Ngwuli clinched the second runner up position with her poem “Lyrics of Old” and got ₦20,000.
Seven other students got ₦10,000 each as consolation prizes at the 8th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast.
Han Sungrae, Director of the KCCN, said for eight years in a row, the centre has offered Nigerians the platform to express themselves and show their talent using poetry.
Sungrae, who was represented by Jee Meeyoun, a Cultural Assistant at the centre, said that the 2018 response to the call for entry into the poetry competition was positive.
In his words:
“This year, we received a record submission in the adult category with 505 poems; from the secondary school category, we got 78 poems from seven schools in the Federal Capital Territory.
The best 10 poems from each category have been carefully selected by independent judges for the awards.
We thank all poets that have sent in entries especially those whose poems were not selected, we implore you not to relent in your quest to excel.”
Alhaji Oladimeji Hassan, Secretary of FCT Social Development Secretariat in his keynote address, said:
“I have no doubt that this poetic exercises is not only intended to be enjoyed but also to spur the creative ingenuity among writers that will produce powerful poets that will build the future of this nation.
