Samuel Monye, a short stories’ writer, novelist, spoken words poet and a graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has emerged senior category winner of Quramo Writers’ Prize 2017, with his work, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, and has won the sum of ₦1 million cash gift.
Samuel Monye’s work is a topical issue that borders on the migrants’ perilous journey through the Sahara Desert to Libya.
Executive Publisher, Quramo Publishing, Mrs. Gbemi Shasore, said that writing is not only for professionals and that Quramo is out to help the young writers discover and sell their talents. To encourage them therefore, the publishing company focuses on their writing and reading abilities, adding, however, that through the contest, they will be able to find hidden talents.
According to Shasore, the company invited independent judges who were not affiliated to it in any way. She noted that the criteria for judging the contestants’ works were based on originality of the stories, language and presentation, stressing that no nation can be successful without improving literacy, and that Quramo intends to take the writer’s award nationwide.
Chief judge of the contest, Mrs. Aduke Gomez, said that hundreds of entries were handed over to the judges anonymously and their works were all judged without favouritism, as the judges unanimously agreed on both winners based on the quality of their writings.
