Obaze To Deliver First Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture At 2020 Literary Festival

By SYNW Anambra

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Selonnes Consult, Chief Oseloka Henry Obaze will deliver the First Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Izunna Okafor, the Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Anambra State Chapter, which is a young writers association that organises the Memorial Lecture and the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival. 

According to him, the Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture, which is the first of its kind, will be delivered at the 2020 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival, which is a literary event annually hosted in honour of Nigerian Literary Icon, Late Prof. Chinua Achebe in celebration of his life, works and legacies.

In his word, "The Literary Festival which started in 2016 and which is in its fifth edition now, will feature drama, open microphone, announcement of winners of Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition, award presentation, unveiling of the Fifth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, “Achebe: A Man of the People” published in honour of Achebe; art exhibition, entertainment, and other literary packages slated for the day."

Mr. Okafor who is also the initiator of the Literary Festival, further revealed that Obaze –a good friend of Achebe –'gladly accepted the invitation,' and is ever ready to 'give his best' at the event themed "Chinua Achebe: Our Heritage In A New Normal".

He noted that Obaze also granted the association the copyright permission to republish his tribute for Achebe "Simply, Achebe" in their forthcoming Fifth Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology.

Chief Oseloka Henry Obaze is a writer, Art enthusiast and Diplomat. He is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Anambra State, as well as former Governorship Candidate in the last gubernatorial election in the State.

The 2020 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival And Maiden Memorial Lecture will hold in November 16 (Achebe's birthday) 2020, at the Anambra State Central E-Library, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, starting at 10:AM.

The event will be chaired by the MD/CEO, Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, who is also an author, art curator and veteran award-winnig journalist.

Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezigbo among other prolific Nigerian writers are also expected at the event.