UI, FUOYE students lead at Adeoti poetry competition

Yusuff Uthman, Daniel Whyte and Adedayo Babatunde have emerged the top three winners of the just concluded Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry  Competition. 

The prize-giving ceremony took place on Saturday,15th of December, 2018.

The competition, the second edition themed  “The exploration of the African (Nigerian) identity and consciousness through the lens of poetry” was organised by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), OAU branch in honour of Gbemisola Adeoti, a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The event which took place at BOOC, OAU had in attendance Mr Adeoti who is also the Dean, Faculty of Arts, OAU; Wale Okediran, the former national president of ANA among others.

Yusuff Uthman, a student of the University of Ibadan emerged the winner. While Daniel Whyte from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Adedayo Babatunde, also a student of the University of Ibadan were first and second runner-up respectively.

Speaking with Campus Reporter, Yusuf Uthman said that like life, the fact that he won was unexpected. 

He said, “well, I felt happy, simply. And just as it usually is the case with winnings in life, I found it as sudden, although hoped for and worked towards, achievement. Maybe I’ve truly won the prize for this year, I however know I’m not necessarily the best of all. 

“I have only put in my own best with hope and, perhaps coincidentally, the judge’s decision has come in favour of me. I must say this contest, like the competitive nature of life itself, is like a ranch stick. It will only keep me moving on as always.”

He added: “My immense gratitude goes to all that have shown me love as well as ANA, OAU and the sponsor, Professor and Poet Gbemisola Adeoti himself.”

Also commenting Mr Whyte said, “words alone cannot qualify the surge of joy that overwhelmed me when I was announced the second place winner. Sincerely, I was hopeful when I saw that I made it to the shortlist which included fifteen entrants and I was more than happy when I was announced second place. I dedicate it to God, my mum, my dearest sisters and poetry lovers of FUOYE.”

While speaking with Campus Reporter, Adedayo Babatunde, the second runner-up said he was quite surprised. He basically describes himself as being strictly a poet because he does not dabble with other genres of literature.

Gbemisola Adeoti holds a PhD in English from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is well known for his poem, Naked Soles, among others.