Imodoye Writers Enclave (ILE IWE), a renowned creative writing hub and writers’ residency in Nigeria, proudly announced the introduction of its fourth cohort of writers during a program held on January 9th, 2024, at the enclave’s premises in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Imodoye Writers’ Enclave was founded with the aim of fostering community-focused initiatives in writing, reading, and critical thinking through different programs, one of which is the Imodoye Writers’ Residency. This residency emerged from a commitment to creating a supportive and conducive environment that empowers writers to finish their ongoing projects with creativity in mind.
The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) who is also the founder of the writers’ residency, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, emphasized that the purpose of the event was to unveil and inspire talented creative writers to complete their ongoing projects while providing them with a writing workshop and other literature-related activities, all at no cost. He also included that the residents are entitled to weekly stipends.
Drawing inspiration from his late father’s commitment to supporting the community, Dr. Akanbi, an Agricultural Economist, expressed his belief that the program would ignite interest in writing and establish a blueprint for the growth of literature in Kwara state, and indeed the entire country.
Five sensational writers were selected for the fourth cohort of Imodoye Writers Residency: Angela Audrey Atsuwe from Benue State, Abdulrazaq Salihu from Niger State, Busayo Fakunle from Oyo State, Odu Ode from Nasarawa state, and Chimnemezu Nwaeze from Imo State.
Angela Audrey Atsuwe hails from Benue State in Nigeria. She is a novelist, a playwright and a poet. She is a teacher of English and a member of ANA Benue. She has published two works of Literature which are: A Reason to Live (prose, which was selected by the state as a reading text for the secondary schools in the state) and Fire and Ice (drama). She competed in the children’s literature competition that was organized by ANA Benue in 2023 and was the prize winner with her short story titled “Grandpa’s Puppy.” She also contested and came second in a poetry competition that was organized by “Writer’s League” a writing forum that was created by the students of English in Benue State University with her poem titled “Rape”. She works hard and gives her best to what ever she chooses to work on and has never stopped learning.
Abdulrazaq Salihu, TPC I. is a Nigerian writer and member of the hilltop creative arts foundation. He won the Masks literary magazine poetry award, LAP poetry prize, Nigerian prize for teen authors and others. He was also a finalist for ‘23 lengthy poetry contest, second runner up in the African diaspora awards and others. He has his works published/forthcoming in brittle paper, strange horizons, Eunoia review, Rogue, Jupiter review, BAM quarterly, poetry column, Defenestration Journal and elsewhere.
Busayo Fakunle is a Phonics consultant, poet, publisher, children’s author, seasoned English language tutor, an editor and the CEO, Hope Alive Educational Consultancy. Some of his creative works have appeared in both national and international anthologies cum journals of high reputation. He is the winner of The Poetry Court contest to celebrate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 81st birthday. He is a Fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency, at Iseyin and the current Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Oyo state chapter.
ODU ODE, is a poet, memoirist and essayist who hails from Kana, Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria. His passion for artistic expression has given birth to four compelling Poetry Chapbooks. “Dark Diary” (2018), “Lullabies Mother Never Sang” (co-authored with Hossein Quadri, 2018), “Calligraphy of Demons” (2020), and “Back Home, There’s a Box of Chocolate” (2023). Notably, his short story, “Secrets to Heaven” received recognition and was longlisted for the prestigious Nigerian Campus Writing Challenge in 2018 and was subsequently published on the Okadabooks.
He is a member of Association of Nigerian Authors, Nasarawa State Branch as well as other literary fora across the Country. He was the Pioneer Chairman of Hilltop Creative arts Foundation Abuja Branch. He is currently the Patron of HCAF Nasarawa Branch.
His poems have featured in anthologies, journals, online platforms, literary fora. His poems can be found in anthologies or sites such as For Ikeogu for Poetry (anthology), Authorpedia, Dervish Tavern, Ace World, Olawrite Poetry, Imomotimi anthology, BPPC Anthology, Cultural Daily, Afriwrites, WRR, Micah anthology of NSPP, PIN, Iman Collectives and others.
Currently, ODU is immersed in his creative pursuits, and he is ardently engaged in the writing of his debut full-length collection of poems as well as a Creative Nonfiction manuscript. His creative endeavours are rooted in his dual residences, as he divides his time between the vibrant cities of Abuja & Keffi.
His poems have appeared in esteemed anthologies such as ‘For Ikeogu, For Poetry,’ ‘Muslim Law Students Association of Nigeria’s Journal,’ ‘Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest,’ ‘Imomotimi,’ ‘Micah,’ ‘Zaria CWC Journal’ and other fora as well as online literary platforms.
Chimnemezu Nwaeze is an award winning playwright. He won the 2011 Education District V Playwrighting competition in Lagos, Nigeria. His first work in print is Angles of Life, a prose, published in 2012; his recent published work is The Animal King, a science fictional fable (play) which received the 2023 A. C. Oguamanam manuscript publication grant and got published in April, 2023. In the same year, his (Children Literature) short story “Shortput” made it as one of the few selected stories (Under contract with the Pan African Writers Association PAWA and Accessible Publishers) for the campaign against open defecation in Africa.
He is a multi-gifted pan Africanist/Youth emancipator and the Lead Administrator of Wake Up Africa Initiative WAi. A graduate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (B.Ed) and a 2022 Honoree of Irsbaccom University, Paracou, Benin Republic. He is a freelance writer, researcher and a tutor of IELTS, SAT and the English Language and Literature.
Chimnemezu Nwaeze is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Imo State Chapter and the immediate past Secretary of ANA FCT-Abuja Chapter. His works have appeared numerously in local and international journals, anthologies and magazines. Nwaeze’s works were part of the 2020 83rd issue of ENVOI, 2018 NASELS Nigeria literary anthology, 2022 Creativity and Art Anthology in celebration of Christopher Okigbo, 2023 International Human Right Foundation, IHRF ‘Speaking Truth to Power’ Global Poetry Activism Anthology etc. His academic reviews have also been published by the Nigerian Review and others.
The 2020 Go Global Impact Maker of the Year was Resident President of the Shakespearean Club Int’l from 2015 to 2018 and also the Editor in chief of the Global Enter-creative Magazine GEM, et al.
These talented writers are expected to spend at least three weeks at Imodoye Writers’ Enclave for their residency, diligently working on their manuscripts to bring their creative visions to fruition.
Present at the unveiling ceremony was one of the board members of Imodoye Writers Enclave, Mr. Dunmoye Ayobami, Mr. Issa Mutolib Ayobami, Imodoye Writers’ Enclave manager, writing enthusiasts, and distinguished individuals representing various fields of expertise and walks of life.
