MISS Roseben Anyanwu, has emerged winner of the 8th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast, with a winning prize of N100, 000.

Anyanwu’s poem: `Roma,’ top the lists for the adult category at the event organised by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), to mark the World Poetry Day on Wednesday night.

Also, Mr Oko Owoicho’s poem “We will sing water,” came second with a total prize money of N75,000 while the third prize of N50,000 went to Rilwan Adelaja for his poem “The Cyclist”.

Seven other poets from the category got the sum of N25,000 each as consolation prizes.

Similarly, from the Junior category including secondary schools, Miss Ameerah Adunola from Government Secondary school, Dutse emerged over all winner for her poem, “Path Way” and was awarded N50,000.

Also, while Miss Praise Acha, from African Child College Abuja emerged first runner up with her poem “The Path” was given N30,000.

Miss Gift Ngwuli clinched the second runner up position with her poem “Lyrics of Old” and got N20, 000.

Seven other students got N10, 000 each as consolation prizes.

Speaking earlier, Mr Han Sungrae, Director of the KCCN said for eight years in a row, the centre has offered Nigerians the platform to express themselves and show their talent using poetry.

Sungrae, who was represented by Ms Jee Meeyoun, a Cultural Assistant at the centre said that the 2018 response to the call for entry into the poetry competition was positive.

“This year, we received a record submission in the adult category with 505 poems; from the secondary school category, we got 78 poems from seven schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The best 10 poems from each category have been carefully selected by independent judges for the awards.

“We thank all poets that have sent in entries especially those whose poems were not selected, we implore you not to relent in your quest to excel,” Sungrae said.

Meanwhile Alhaji Oladimeji Hassan, Secretary of FCT Social Development Secretariat in his keynote address said poets were creative, imaginative and can forecast both human and natural happenings.

“I have no doubt that this poetic exercises is not only intended to be enjoyed but also to spur the creative ingenuity among writers that will produce powerful poets that will build the future of this nation.

“I will continue to encourage and support these creative minds in which lies the root of our collective growth and development as a nation,” Hassan said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that high point of the event was poetry recitation and spoken words performances on stage by some students and poets.

– Mar. 22, 2018 @ 14:40 GMT |