Casinos are what I see in television and read about in novels but in the blink of an eye, one a wet Thursday evening, I found myself in one - The Jacaranda Casino at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers. Gambling is no doubt a beautiful temptation and the Casinos as most of us would think of it a place for the denizens of this cursed earth.
As I walked into this prestigious Casino with gambling machines and tables, the type I have seen in various Gangster films like Shanrukhan’s ‘Badshaar’ staring me In the face, It was into the waiting hands of fellow gamblers who had come on this same adventurer.
Only that, in this case however, the gamblers are members of Abuja literati and other literary enthusiasts, friends, families and associates made up largely of members of the Association of Nigerian Authors who had gathered for yet another reading by the golden voice of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry, Eugenia Abu who only recently was promoted to the position of an Assistant Director of News at the Nigerian Television Authority.
While Mrs. Bimbo Olusola - a friend and colleague who would rather be addressed simply as Aunty Angel describes the Author cum broadcaster as a wonderful person, a true profession – proactive, persuasive and capable of handling work pressure, Omale Allen Abdul-Jabbar, a national executive member of ANA describes Eugenia and her award winning book as ‘a Nigerian Brand’ and went on to commend her for being a writer with love of her country at heart.
The reading activities on the evening in the belly of the colourful Jacaranda Casino, was set off with a reading from the Author’s book ‘In The Blink of An Eye’ by Mrs. Lucy Mangu Tarka an Interior Decorator and Guest Reader at the reading who read Eugenia Abu’s Interview with Wangari Maathai. Poetry performances by Prince Toby and Ifueko Ogbomo who entertained the audience with their poetry and Ayo Babatope, the wonder-kid drummer boy who employed the services of this writer as a backup drummer to thrill the audience with his drumming skill.
It however turn out to be a night of new discovery as the versatile Eugenia Abu after reading a couple of stories from her published book, for the first time decided to show the poetic side of her as she read a couple of poems from are unpublished collection of poem titled ‘Don’t Look At Me Like That’ and a short story titled ‘From Umuofia’ the story of Okonkwo’s re-incarnation.
The audience was full of praises and encomium for the author who undoubtedly is gradually writing her name in the annals of Nigeria’s literary history as an accomplished writer, even with just one published work. Denja Abdullahi, ANA’s National Secretary-General commended Eugenia’s creative approach to her writings “We all know that this work is not a fiction but the creative approach with which Eugenia writes are story is what endears the work to must people and made it possible for her to win the ANA/Flora Mwanpa Prize for Fiction.”
Dr. Seyi Adigun, chairman of the Abuja chapter of ANA who chaired the reading session in his remark encouraged writers to emulate the relentless resolve of Eugenia by going all out to promote their works rather than wait for the publisher to do it for them. “Talking about reading habit, it is not the business of government but of every single writer. With reading like these, in Casinos, hospital, hotels, prisons and schools, we are indirectly promoting the inculcation of a good reading habit. Congratulations Mrs. Abu” he said.
Mr. Collins, the Manager of the Casino expresses his gratitude to all guests who attends the reading and thereafter led them on a tour of the casino. In addition to the sumptuous refreshment provided, each person at the reading went home with a free entry voucher of the casino. Like every other person, I collected mine but the question is would I ever want to go back there? Yes, if for another reading activities.
Other guests and writers at the reading include Senator Dangana Ndayako, Anthony Ibeachum, Dr. Ike Okonta, Dr. (Mrs.) Jennifer Braimah, Chiedu Ezeanah, Daniel Akpaida, Joy Okoduwa, Barrister Ahmed Maiwada and a host of others.
As I walked into this prestigious Casino with gambling machines and tables, the type I have seen in various Gangster films like Shanrukhan’s ‘Badshaar’ staring me In the face, It was into the waiting hands of fellow gamblers who had come on this same adventurer.
Only that, in this case however, the gamblers are members of Abuja literati and other literary enthusiasts, friends, families and associates made up largely of members of the Association of Nigerian Authors who had gathered for yet another reading by the golden voice of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry, Eugenia Abu who only recently was promoted to the position of an Assistant Director of News at the Nigerian Television Authority.
While Mrs. Bimbo Olusola - a friend and colleague who would rather be addressed simply as Aunty Angel describes the Author cum broadcaster as a wonderful person, a true profession – proactive, persuasive and capable of handling work pressure, Omale Allen Abdul-Jabbar, a national executive member of ANA describes Eugenia and her award winning book as ‘a Nigerian Brand’ and went on to commend her for being a writer with love of her country at heart.
The reading activities on the evening in the belly of the colourful Jacaranda Casino, was set off with a reading from the Author’s book ‘In The Blink of An Eye’ by Mrs. Lucy Mangu Tarka an Interior Decorator and Guest Reader at the reading who read Eugenia Abu’s Interview with Wangari Maathai. Poetry performances by Prince Toby and Ifueko Ogbomo who entertained the audience with their poetry and Ayo Babatope, the wonder-kid drummer boy who employed the services of this writer as a backup drummer to thrill the audience with his drumming skill.
It however turn out to be a night of new discovery as the versatile Eugenia Abu after reading a couple of stories from her published book, for the first time decided to show the poetic side of her as she read a couple of poems from are unpublished collection of poem titled ‘Don’t Look At Me Like That’ and a short story titled ‘From Umuofia’ the story of Okonkwo’s re-incarnation.
The audience was full of praises and encomium for the author who undoubtedly is gradually writing her name in the annals of Nigeria’s literary history as an accomplished writer, even with just one published work. Denja Abdullahi, ANA’s National Secretary-General commended Eugenia’s creative approach to her writings “We all know that this work is not a fiction but the creative approach with which Eugenia writes are story is what endears the work to must people and made it possible for her to win the ANA/Flora Mwanpa Prize for Fiction.”
Dr. Seyi Adigun, chairman of the Abuja chapter of ANA who chaired the reading session in his remark encouraged writers to emulate the relentless resolve of Eugenia by going all out to promote their works rather than wait for the publisher to do it for them. “Talking about reading habit, it is not the business of government but of every single writer. With reading like these, in Casinos, hospital, hotels, prisons and schools, we are indirectly promoting the inculcation of a good reading habit. Congratulations Mrs. Abu” he said.
Mr. Collins, the Manager of the Casino expresses his gratitude to all guests who attends the reading and thereafter led them on a tour of the casino. In addition to the sumptuous refreshment provided, each person at the reading went home with a free entry voucher of the casino. Like every other person, I collected mine but the question is would I ever want to go back there? Yes, if for another reading activities.
Other guests and writers at the reading include Senator Dangana Ndayako, Anthony Ibeachum, Dr. Ike Okonta, Dr. (Mrs.) Jennifer Braimah, Chiedu Ezeanah, Daniel Akpaida, Joy Okoduwa, Barrister Ahmed Maiwada and a host of others.
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