Nigeria Content Online

The eight writers at the CORA book party speak on their
expectations

Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo

I hope to win and I want to thank the NLNG for instituting the
prize. I have no doubt that it will go a long way in promoting the development
of our literature in this country and I hope that other institutions will
follow suit.

Zaynabu Jallo

Winning a prize isn’t what should determine your writing. It’s
great to be nominated, it’s good if the prizes do come but it shouldn’t be
influenced by the winning of prize at the end of the day.

Ziky Kofoworola

I was really impressed by the panel of judges who are made up of
those who taught me. People know that the panel of judges are men of timber and
calibre. They are not just local champions, they are international
personalities who are highly reputable and to that extent, whatever verdict
come out of these credible personalities should be acceptable because there is
a lot of wisdom in the choice of the panel. I want to also encourage young
playwrights, it’s not winning, it’s the chance, the opportunity to contribute
to future generations, contribute to humanity. That is what matters.

Emmy Unuja Idegu

The stage we have reached now, I’m not a great football fan but
it’s like two top teams playing 90 minutes and there is no winner. 30 extra
minute no winner. We are now onto penalty shoot out and in penalty shoot out,
the best of players have missed their kicks. As for winning, it’s what the
outside world will call luck but for me it’s entirely the grace of God. So
whoever wins, kudos. Of course, I’m expecting my play to come out tops but the
level we have reached it’s on acceptability and I’m personally encouraged. When
I get back to the class and I’m teaching my students playwriting and I tell
them I’m coming from a function like this, it’s some level of credence. It
means what our lecturer has been telling us, there is some acceptability beyond
the class.

Irene Salami-Agunloye

I’ve enjoyed myself and I feel privileged to be amongst these
eminent personalities. I know that the jury will have a tough time having
listened to everybody here because all our presentations seem to be very good.
Particularly, I’m very happy seeing that my student is also sitting here with
us. For me as a teacher, that’s very good. It means that I have taught well. I
happened to have taught Zaynabu Jallo as an undergraduate so I’m very happy.
For me it’s double joy. I actually expect that my play will come first. But
it’s not all about money, sincerely. I heard about the monetary aspect of the
prize only yesterday and it’s not really about what you will get out of it
financially but the exposure and things attached to it.

Uduak Akpabio

Before a writer puts pen to paper, there is usually one major
expectation; that the general public should read the work otherwise there is no
point in writing. So, for all of us here, NLNG and CORA have really given us
the platform to present these works to the larger public, to make it known, to
make it accessible to people and that is priceless. By the time you go to the
younger generation and you tell them there is something to be gained by
writing, write down your experiences, write down your creativity so that other
people can benefit from it in future and they say: ‘the problem’ Aunty’ is that
writers are poor people’ and you say no, it’s not all about money. And even if
it’s about money, look at NLNG. Someone wrote and could win a prize like this.

Akinwumi Isola

I have the greatest faith in and also greatest respect for the
panel that will judge the play. I assure you whatever decision that they make
is acceptable.

Uwem Udoko

I see my presence here today a very rare opportunity. I want to
thank the NLNG and CORA for taking this initiative and to advise all of us that
we have to be passionate about things happening around us because it’s the
passion that we have as writers that made us to put pen to paper to try to
address the ills in our society. I believe that at the end of it all, whether I
win or not, as long as the problem I try to address in my work is being
addressed, I count myself as a winner.