Writer honoured for winning NNOM award

zainab quadri

August 7, 2015 11:59 AM

Niyi Osundare, was honoured by people from all walks of life, especially distinguished academics for winning the 2014 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award.

Prof. Niyi Osundare

Niyi Osundare, a professor of English at the University of Orleans, Lakefront, New Orleans in the United States, was recently was honoured by people from all walks of life, especially distinguished academics.

According to The Sun, It was a luncheon organized by an Ibadan-based business mogul, Dr. Lekan Are, and his family in honour of Osundare, world-acclaimed poet, for winning the 2014 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award. The Ekiti-born scholar was the sole winner of the award in December 2014. The NNOM is the officially recognized award for excellence in the academics and it is always appreciated publicly for its non-partisan consideration.

The luncheon held at the Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre on a Sunday afternoon. The invitation was also extended to celebrate the Nigerian literary brand, who has won virtually all the prizes and awards of global recognition in poetry.

The luncheon, chaired by former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Prof Ayo Banjo, attracted dignitaries such as Emeritus Prof Ayo Bamgbose; the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Eddy Oyewole; Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adebayo Akande; Emeritus Prof. Biola Odejide; and Prof. Olutayo Adesina of the Department of History, U.I.

Also in attendance were former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Olusola Saanu; Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, U.I, Prof Labode Popoola; Prof Dan Izebaye; Prof Festus Adesanoye, Prof Wale Adebanwi and so on. Those who had opportunity to speak on the occasion paid glowing tributes to Osundare.

In his welcome address, Are, who is the chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, said he decided to honour Osundare because he was the sole winner of the 2014 NNOM, which was conferred on him in December 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

"In 2014, Prof Osundare was the only person that was given the honour out of 170 million population of the country. The award started about 40 years ago and up till date, we are yet to have up to 70 people that have been conferred with this honour.

"It is won simply on merit. There is no geographical spread for it to be won and you don't have to be a politician to get it. It is equivalent of our Nobel prize. Only Osundare won it last year. The assessors are eminent people and it is the work you have done that would speak for you. I was happy when I heard the announcement that the award would be conferred on him.

Colours were added to the programme when a poet and dramatist, Mr. Ropo Ewenla, took the stage and proposed the toast of Osundare. A prominent Ibadan native and former diplomat, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, averred that Osundare's poems were easy to read as he described him as a pride to the Black people of the world. He congratulated him and prayed that he would continue to be a hero and represent Nigeria creditably.

Osundare, in his response, described the honour as a celebration of excellence, which was greater than he. The foundation of his achievement, according to him, was based on the quality education he received from his university teachers, such as Professors Ayo Banjo, Ayo Bamgbose and Dan Izebaye in U.I. He decried the rot in the country's university system, saying, the critical stakeholders must go back to the drawing board to proffer lasting solution to the menace.

zainab quadri