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Unlike the 2009 Grand Award Night in Abuja where no writer won the $50,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, a worthy winner, the late Esiaba Irobi, emerged at the 2010 edition held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on October 9.

‘Cemetery Road’ by the late academic, dramatist, and poet was deservedly adjudged the best ahead of Ahmed Yerima’s ‘Little Drops…’ and Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo’s ‘The Killing Swamps’. Perhaps, still smarting from the barrage of criticisms directed at him last year when the unenviable task of reading the report of the judges fell on him, Ayo Banjo, a member of the Literature Committee, deferred the task to Dapo Adelugba, chair, panel of judges this time around.

Life, love and death

But Adelugba, rather dramatically, wouldn’t execute it alone either. He asked other members of the panel: Mary Kolawole, John Ilah, Kalu Uka, and Tanimu Abubakar to join him on stage while he read the report in which special praise was reserved for Irobi’s ‘Cemetery Road’.

Amongst others, Adelugba said the dialogue of the play, which had won the World Drama Trust Award for playwriting in 1992, crackles and that the play advances the frontiers of drama. He added that ‘Cemetery Road’, which Irobi submitted for the competition, opened to Nigerians in the Diaspora for the first time since its inception in 2004, “is about living, loving, and dying for the things we hold dear.”

Done with the report, Adelugba still wouldn’t announce the winner. He requested Banjo to do it. Banjo, emeritus professor of English and former vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, then announced the victory of Irobi, to applause from the literati. Osondu, Irobi’s brother who collected the prize on his behalf, couldn’t hide his joy as he left his seat and walked towards the end of the hall trance-like, holding his head in his hands in disbelief.

The announcement was the highpoint of the evening. The fact that an accomplished dramatist and scholar who, sadly, wasn’t around to savour his victory after succumbing to death in Berlin, Germany, on May 3, 2010, won the prize, proved to be a very moving conclusion. That, and the fact that the award gala did not end in a fiasco like last year, warmed the hearts of many at the event where 28 eminent Nigerians were inducted into the Nigerian hall of fame for science and letters.

Welcoming guests earlier, deputy managing director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Basheer Koko, disclosed that the 2010 Grand Award Night was special to the NLNG because “it is coming at a time when the country is celebrating 50 years of nationhood.” He added that it is also unique because “for the first time in the history of our nation, 28 distinguished Nigerians selected by the Nigerian Academy of Science and the Nigerian Academy of Letters will be inducted into the halls of fame for science and letters.”

Time to say ‘yes’

The managing director of the company, Chima Ibeneche, who delivered the keynote address titled ‘Time to Say Yes to Nigeria’, admitted that he never dreamt he would ever give it. He said he chose the title because “our nay-saying is at the root of our non-performance and the stunted growth of our nation after 50 years of independence.”

He said though Nigerians complain about the state of affairs in the country, there are several things including a good climate, surviving a civil war, improved telecommunications, and achievers who have conquered the world amongst others, to be grateful for.

On why no money was included in the package for the honourees, Ibeneche said, “The reason is to instil in us all, especially in younger Nigerians, an appreciation of excellence as its own reward and the pursuit of excellence as an end in itself. These are values that have defined scholarship and excellence for countless centuries. These are values that will save Nigeria from self- destruction.”

Ibeneche condemned the entrenched tribalism in the country and called for a change of attitude.

“Compatriots, I urge you to avert your eyes from the current pettiness and see what Nigeria can be. With strong institutions, we can mitigate inadequacies arising from our heterogeneous existence, with fairness we shall have little need for cults and private armies, by insisting on rule of law and greater corporate governance, we can bring about respect for life and dignity of the human person. By renewing our infrastructure, we shall release the energy of our youth and promote greater productivity. By saying ‘Yes’ to the rights of the individual citizen irrespective of origin, we can turn our diversity to a source of strength.”

He also charged Nigerians not to blame only the executive for Nigeria’s woes, noting that the National Assembly is culpable by failing in a number of its responsibilities.

“They have failed by not forcing onto the agenda the issues that are important to Nigerians. They have seemed more concerned for their remuneration than for the welfare of their constituents.”

The laureates

A performance by Beeta Universal, which appears to be an offshoot of Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe of Africa, preceded the induction ceremony of the honourees. Ben Elugbe, president, Nigerian Academy of Letters, inducted the 14 laureates comprising the late Abubakar Imam, Ladi Kwali, Christopher Okigbo, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Ben Enwonwu, Fela Sowande, and Kenneth Dike into the Nigerian Hall of Fame for Letters. The still living Jacob F. Ade Ajayi, Ayo Bamgbose, J.P.Clark, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Emmanuel Obiechina, and Michael Echeruo were also inducted.

President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Oye Ibidapo-Obe, inducted the 14 scientists. They include Adenike Abiose, Feyisola Sylvester Adegoke, Oladipo Akinkugbe, Gordian Ezekwe, Adeoye Lambo, Samuel Layinka Manuwa, and Chike Obi. Others were Ifedayo Oladapo, Sanya Onabamiro, Kayode Osuntokun, Victor Oyenuga, Umaru Shehu, and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.

Abdullahi Muku, acting director general, National Gallery of Arts, disclosed that the Aina Onabolu Gallery of Modern Art at the National Theatre, Iganmu, has been renovated to house the citations, plaques, and photographs of the honourees.

The special guest of honour, actor Sam Loco-Efe, who was ushered into the hall and stage with Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’, a favourite of his, made the audience laugh with a short speech laced with high falutin rhymes.

Winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science, Akaehomen Ibhadode, a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Benin, also got his prize.