As Ebedi reaches another milestone

RECENTLY, the Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), who is also the founder of Nigeria’s most prominent writers’ residency, Ebedi International Writers’ Residency, Iseyin, Oyo State, Dr Wale Okediran, gathered literary stakeholders at the Educare Trust, Samonda, Ibadan, to celebrate the 10th compendium of the Ebedi Review.

The publication features articles, essays, poems, among other literary genres, by past and current fellows of the residency.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, Dr Okediran, a medical doctor by training, walked down memory lane about how he became a writer, just as he appreciated a former Managing Director of Evans, a publishing firm, Mr Gbenro Adegbola, for his support in his smooth transition into writing.

Dr Okediran said: “I loved writing and one day, I took my manuscript to my friend and brother, Mr Gbenro Adegbola, who was a top publishing executive at that time.

“When he [Adegbola] looked at the manuscript, he gave me some suggestions, which I worked on and my first book was published; that was 37 years ago. Today, I have published 13 more books. I am, therefore, grateful to Mr Adegbola for supporting me in this journey.”

Chairman on the occasion, who is also the Oyo State Commissioner for Informational and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, also said he knew Dr Okediran would become a writer as he was always jotting down some things at any event they were.

“I have known him in the last 39 years and in October 1985, I asked him why he was always jotting down things at events. The answer today is the number of books he has published and how he has been supporting writers through the Ebedi International Writers’ Residency in Iseyin.”

The editor of the publication, Mr Paul Liam, while speaking, commended Dr Okediran for his support for African writers through the residency.

“I was at the residency in 2014 and I know how much that six weeks benefited my writing. We have more than 300 writers who have also benefited from the residency. “

A former commissioner in Osun State, Mr Muyiwa Ige, moderated the event.

Mr Ige, son of the late Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, revealed that Dr Okediran was his father’s personal physician.

“So Dr Okediran’s life is a message to everybody, especially the younger generation, that they can be whoever they want to be, no matter their educational discipline or background,” Mr Ige said.

Also at the event were students of Olivet Baptist Secondary School, Oyo; Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin; political and community leaders from Iseyin, where Dr Okediran hails from; president and executive secretary of Educare Trust, Dr Tony Marinho and Mr Sunkanmi Onadeko, among others.

Adewale Oshodi