PIN releases long list of 20 for the 2018 NSPP Award

Poets in Nigeria (PIN), organizer of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) has announced the long list for the 2018 edition of the NSPP. A statement by Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, Moderator of NSPP 2018, gives the long listed entries as follows:

• SLAVERY | Samuel Irusota (Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma)

• TWO SIDES OF HAKEEM | Ikeobi Samuel Chukwubuokem (University of Agriculture, Abeokuta)

• RED | Deborah Oluwakemi Selemon (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)

• COLOURS | Hauwa Saleh Abubakar (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria)

• WE WILL BEAR NO MORE | Ihezue Somtochukwu Rodney (University of Benin, Ugbowo)

• BEAUTIFUL SAYS THE BLACK BOY | Nduka Benjamin Chinonye (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

• AS DAYS | Ajoni Justinah Oluwabukola (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)

• PARDON FOR RAPE | Akinpelu David Olamide (Lagos State University, Ojo)

• WHEN A WOMAN WRITES | Badmus Firdaws Anisatullah (University of Ilorin, Ilorin)

• REMINISCE | Dennis Williams Uchechi (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife)

• HOW TO BREAK-LOOSE FROM THE BATTLEFIELD | Bayowa Ayomide Micheal (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)

• THIS AGONY MOTHER FEELS | Idowu Ebenezer Odeyemi (Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti)

• CHRONICLE OF LIFE'S BATTLES | Olajuwon Joseph Olumide (Yaba College of Technology)

• WORDS MY MOTHER TOLD ME |Oyekunle Ifeoluwa Peter (Federal University of Technology, Akure)

• WHAT'S THE "NIGERIAN" WORD FOR CHANGE? | Ayikpo Timothy (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)

• THUNDER | Ubi Ubi Ofem (Cross River University of Technology, Calabar)

• HERE, NOWHERE | Kester Kanayo Onyemaechi (University of Benin, Ugbowo)

• DEEP DREAMS | Iberiyenari Godstime Tamunofiri (Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa)

• MOTHER DEAREST | Okoye Micah Oguguo (Enugu State University of Science and      Technology, Enugu)

• YET ANOTHER HEAD | Amagwula Nnenna Comfort (University of Lagos, Lagos)

Eriata Oribhabor, President of PIN

464 entries were received and reviewed by the jury to get the top 100 poems from which the 20 entries above are long listed. The judging panel including Ismail Bala, Soji Cole, Hülya N Yılmaz, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson and Saka Aliyu commented  on the entries, “The entries are bold varieties of poems, of anger, disillusionment, love, justice, quest, rustic and pastoral, vengeance, odes and one or two that are succinct for epitaphs. Perhaps the shining light for most of the entries was the future they hold; the future to define the path of global creative writing through the creative combination of powerful evocative languages, connotative rhythms,  melodious lines and sentient cerebral energy – in other words, they are poems that sing to the ears yet bursting the skin with the very attention they seek.”

A shortlist of 10 poems will be announced on 15 May 2018 while the prize winners will be revealed at the NSPP Awards slated for 24th May, 2018 at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.