Modibbo Hosts The Write Squad

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Phd), in further demonstration of his love for literature and the art will on Tuesday 2nd March, 2010 play host The Write Squad (a handful of students from FCT schools), and other members of the literati in Abuja to an interactive session tagged MY BOOK & I.

It would be remembered that the Minister, during his tenure as the FCT Minister help restored the Association of Nigerian Authors’ 56 Hectares of land in Mpape (allocated to the association in 1986 by the late Maman J. Vatsa), when he wrote-off the N22 million tenement fee slammed on the land, with promises that his administration will help in the development of the property. During the same period, he renamed the Abuja Council for Arts and Culture in honour of one of Nigeria’ Iconic novelist, Late Cyprian Ekwensi and was on the verge of setting up a Library of Nigerian Books, which would have been the largest collection of Nigerian Authors in collaboration with one of Nigeria’s top Banks, when he was removed from office.

 

The Gombe state born teacher and politician who also collaborated with the Association of Nigerian Authors in the celebration of Things Fall Apart at Fifty by sponsoring a celebration in Abuja which included the invitation of a Chinua Achebe Bard Fellow and author of Waiting for an Angel, Helon Habila from the United State as the Guest Writer at the event, sees hosting this literary session as a necessary contribution back to the society that anyone should emulate. “I have always been passionate about literature and art and so I see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate my love for literature and especially to contribute to youth, education and national development” he said in his letter of acceptance to host the reading.

 

The monthly interactive session, tagged My Book & I is an initiative of The Write Squad, a school based literary club launched in Abuja in October 2009 by Arojah Concepts to encourage literary reading among school children.

 

According to Jerry Adesewo, the founder and coordinator of the group, the The Write Squad, through this critical literary reading session will mould a generation of readers, critical thinkers and writers which will in turn help us create a literate society and a resounding standard of education. “The issue of host is an attempt to use the Host/Read Ambassador, who will mostly be a reputable Nigerian or Nigerian residents from any field of endeavour to mentor the participants. In this case, the former Minister of FCT” he explained adding that The Write Squad will provide relaxed, unpressured atmosphere to read, interact, write and share works and serve as a sounding board and support network for a growing community of young writers and literary critics.

 

MY BOOK & I will help young Nigerians discover writing through critical literary reading and other literary exercises and workshop through its monthly reading session and a quarterly writing workshop and Author mentorship programme that will provide members and participants of the club opportunity to interact with creative writers on a monthly basis.

 

This maiden session will feature twenty-four students and six teachers (4 students and 1 teacher from each school) in a reading and interactive session with Barrister Ahmed Maiwada and his new book, MUSDOKI. Government Secondary Schools Kubwa, Wuse, and Tudunwada, Model Secondary School Maitama, Stella Maris College and Regina Pacis Girls Secondary Schools are the six schools to participate in this edition.

The March edition is expected to feature either Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Sade’s Wives, with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, House Committee Chairman on Diaspora as the Host/Read Ambassador while Wale Okediran’s Tenants of the House is slated for April with Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello as the likely Host/Read Ambassador.