SYNW SET TO CREATE ACHEBE’S CORNER IN THIRTY SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OYO STATE
As part of our aims and objectives of celebrating both the living and dead authors. SYNW is now set to create Achebe’s Corner in thirty secondary schools across Oyo State. The Society will be donating the Corner with the Chinua Achebe Fact Finder CD – compilations of Achebe’s interview, thesis, essays, dissertations, criticisms and appraisal of his works as well as postals and electronic books of over two hundred and fifty well known authors across the globe. Also two hundred literary e-books in French Language featuring French famous poets, playwrights and novelists. This is another initiative of the Society in conjunction with Alliance Francaise, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Society is doing this in order to honour, remember and appreciate the literary works of the Late Professor Chinua Achebe who passed away recently at the ripeful age of 82 years. This is not the first time the Society will be organizing an event of this type. In the last two years, we have celebrated Prof. Remi Raji with a National Poetry Competition. Late D.O. Fagunwa with the Fagunwa Night event. Anthony Ebika with poetry contest. Ify Omalicha Agwu and Sesan Ajayi with a poetry anthology titled “Songs of Sorrow” and lastly, Chief Obafemi Awolowo with a poetry anthology tagged “Songs of Freedom” and inauguration of Paperless Libraries and Book Clubs (Digital Libraries) in some selected public and private secondary schools in Oyo State and Osun State respectively.
To us, the impact of Achebe to the development of Literature in Ibadan through MBARI MBAYO should not be underrated. He wrote seventy percent of his internationally acclaimed novel “Things Fall Apart” in Ibadan during his school days, that is why we are honouring him with this project.
We have already published an anthology titled “Silent Voices” – Collection of Poems by young poets from Nigeria and Zimbabwe in honour of the late Professor Chinua Achebe. Another initiative of the Society in collaboration with the Girl Child Creativity Concept of Zimbabwe.

Using a day literary programme in honouring Achebe is not sufficient. Achebe is a legend and maestro. It is very painful that his alma mata – University of Ibadan has not set up any project in his honour and memory. We are proposing this to them (University of Ibadan) to establish “Chinua Achebe Literary Park/Garden where writers from the academic communities and authors from outside the school can read, criticize, showcase and promote their works. We are also working seriously to make sure Oyo State Government do the same in honouring the late literary legend.

Wole Adedoyin
National President