ANA Oyo Report - 2016 Yusuf Ali Literary Awareness Campaign

 REPORT ON ANA/YUSUF ALI ESSAY COMPETITION HELD AT THE EDUCARE TRUST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, AERODROME GRA, SAMONDA IBADAN ON SATURDAY, 25TH JUNE, 2016 ORGANISED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS, OYO STATE CHAPTER.

In line with the ANA/YUSUF ALI Literary Campaign programme to promote reading culture amongst the youths in the country, the Association of Nigerian Authors, Oyo State Chapter, organised an essay competition for secondary schools in Ibadan at Educare Trust Youth Development Centre, Aerodrome GRA, Samonda, Ibadan on Saturday, 25th June, 2016.

The selected students for the exercise were drawn from both the public and private colleges namely:

 1. Ajibode Grammar School, Ajibode, Ibadan
2. Our Lady of Apostles Grammar School, Odo-Ona, Ibadan
3. Ojoo High School, Ojoo, Ibadan
4. Abadina Grammar School, Ibadan
5. St. Patrick Grammar School, Basorun, Ibadan
6. Humani Alaga Grammar School, Basorun Ibadan
7.The Smart School, Ido, Ibadan
8. Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan
9. Maverick College, Ibadan
10. Fontanna High School, Ibadan
11. Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan
12. All Souls’ High School, Bodija, Ibadan
13. Polytechnic High School, Ibadan
14. Achievers’ College, Bodija Ibadan
15. Bodija International College, Ibadan
16. Sango High School, Sango, Ibadan
17. Agbowo Community Grammar School, Bodija Market, Ibadan
18. Isabatudeen Girls' Grammar School, Basorun, Ibadan
19. Anwal Islam Grammar School, Eleyele, Ibadan
20. Oba Akinbiyi High School, Mokola, Ibadan

Under the arrangement, the selected schools were invited to prepare their students (three students from each school)  for the essay titled, “Reading Culture Among The Youths: Prospects and Challenges” . The competing students wrote the essay at the venue of the competition and marks would be awarded to each student based on his/her performance.

All the public schools invited for the competition were unable to participate as a result of strike action embarked upon by the Oyo State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Solomon Iguanre, the Chairman, ANA Oyo while welcoming the participating students said they should count themselves as being privileged. He therefore challenged them to be more serious in their studies adding that, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’.

In all, three students from the following schools: Fontanna High School, Bodija, Ibadan; The Smart School, Ido and All Souls’, Bodija, Ibadan performed excellently in the competition conducted under the eagle eye of Ebika Anthony, a former National Public Relation Officer(South) of the Association of Nigerian Authors.

The following criteria determined their performance in the competition: introduction, mechanical accuracy, spellings, punctuations, tenses, conjunction, presentation of ideas, logical presentation, body and conclusion.

i. Miss Ogunsola Precious Jolaoluwa of The Smart School, Ibadan came first having scored 75 per cent. Her essay was laced with good presentation; good creative use of words; logical thoughts; and very good use of English. Ogunsola was later presented with the following: a cash award of ten thousand naira (N10, 000), and a plague. 

ii. Miss Ibukunoluwa Darasimi of All Souls’ High School, Ibadan came second having scored 74 per cent. Her essay was enthused with good introduction; beautiful presentation; and fantastic use of English.  Ibukunoluwa was later presented with a cash award of seven thousand naira (N7, 000), and a plague.

iii. Miss Adewumi Ayodeji of Fontanna High School, Ibadan came third having scored 71 per cent. Her essay was spiced with beautiful introduction; very good presentation; and good use of English. Adewumi was presented with the following: a cash award of five thousand naira (N5, 000) and a plague.
A consolation prize of three thousand naira only was given to as a student who came  fourth. Also, consolation prizes of one thousand naira each were given to other students in the category of fifth to ninth positions.

All the participating students (first, second and third positions inclusive) were presented with Certificate of Participation and a book titled, "5 Habits of Excellent Students" donated by Biola Layonu, the co-ordinator of the event.
Also the panel of judges that awarded marks recommended that the essays of the first, second and third positions are suitable for publication in the national dailies.


While awaiting their results, all the participating students were made to recite poems, sing songs, tell jokes etc. They were also conducted round the Exhibition Hall of Educare Trust Youth Development Centre by the Director of Educare Trust, Mr. Moshood Folorunso where they watched video on ‘Holiday School’.

Funso Omotoso and Freeman Okosun, the vice-chairman and secretary respectively of ANA Oyo also addressed the students on what it entails to be an author. Both of them said they write to live and live to write right from the time they graduated from the university. They enjoined the students to always cultivate the habit of reading and writing if they hope to become a successful author in the future.

The students were also entertained with snacks, beverages in the full glare of teaming crowd of ANA-OYO members, friends and well-wishers. Dishes of amala and rice were served to everybody during the afternoon season where cash prizes and awards were presented to participating students. 

The event was graced by the Crème de la crème of the literary world including Professors Niyi Osundare, Remi Raji, Francis Egbokhare, Mathew Umukoro and wife; Prof. Bamidele, Prof. Nelson Fasina, Dr. Keye Abiona, Prince Caution Preboye (ANA-Oyo Patron) and his wife. In all, ninety-five persons graced the occasion.