Ibadan Book Club Marks 2023 World Poetry Day in Grand Style

 

IBADAN BOOK CLUB MARKS 2023 WORLD POETRY DAY IN GRAND STYLE

 

The Ibadan Book Club celebrated the 2023 World Poetry Day in a grand style. The event was held on the 25th of March at the Oyo State Library Board. Members of the club came together to mark this year's edition of the World Poetry Day, which also coincided with the monthly reading program of the club, tagged "Ibadan Reads." The event was graced by Mr. Sulaiman Olaide Salawudeen, an assistant lecturer at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), and a freelance writer/public commentator, who spoke extensively on journalism, poetry, editing, and publishing.

The guest speaker, Mr. Sulaiman Salawudeen, was a former civil servant who later became a journalist with The Nation newspaper. He shared his experience as a journalist and how he combined his profession with his passion for writing poetry. Mr. Salawudeen also read from his works and answered questions from the audience, making the event informative and engaging.

As part of the celebration, the club distributed poetry anthology titled “Songs of a Stranger at the Smiling Cost” written by Obinna Chilekezi. The books were given out to the participants free of charge, providing an opportunity for them to read and appreciate the beauty of poetry.

The event also featured some of the club members who read from their poems. Olowe Inioluwa, a student of God’s Blessing Comprehensive College, read “Nigeria,” while Taiwo Fauziyyah read “Illuminating Journey,” and Salawudeen Moridiya read “Theatrics Towards 2019.” The audience was also treated to a brief lecture by Mr. Salaudeen on “Celebrating the Beauty of Poetry.”

The theme of discussion, “Celebrating the Beauty of Poetry,” sparked a lot of interesting contributions from the audience. Members of the club, including Mr. Gbenga Adetayo, Soyinka Abayomi Yusuf, Adegbite Temisola, Kayode Ayomide, and Adeleke I.O.B, made fantastic contributions to the theme of discussion. The discussions were insightful and thought-provoking, further reinforcing the importance of poetry in our society.

Unfortunately, two members of the club, Mr. Marcus Ugboduma and Mr. Adeoye Thomson, were unable to attend the event, but they sent their apologies. Nevertheless, the event was a huge success, thanks to the support of the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John Asien, who sponsored the event.

The Ibadan Book Club is known for promoting literature and reading culture in Ibadan and its environs. The club's members are passionate about reading and writing, and they come together regularly to discuss books and literary works. The club also organizes events like the World Poetry Day celebration to promote poetry and encourage aspiring poets.

The 2023 World Poetry Day celebration was a memorable one, and the Ibadan Book Club deserves commendation for organizing such a successful event. The club's dedication to promoting literature and reading culture is laudable, and it serves as an inspiration to other literary groups and book clubs in the country.