A Candid Review of Connect Nigeria’s 2nd Writers’ Conference

Barely a week after the Nigerian general election tales had abated, Connect Nigeria came up with an inimitable creative writing conference tagged: The Business of Writing 2, which took place on 18th April, 2015 at the prestigious Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. The conference attracted literary enthusiasts from all corners of the city and it had some of Nigeria’s best young literary professionals with diverse literary prognosis that cuts across all genres of literature. The conversation towed the attendees to a great pool of literary experience masterminded by prolific writers like Ope Great, Joy Isi Bewaji, Efe Paul, Ike Nnaebue, Uduak Isong, Ofili Okechukwu, and Mirian Chibuzor Azubuike. The event never had a dull moment as the speakers spoke from their vast knowledge of writing and publishing. One very important lesson learnt from the event was Joy’s view on finding one’s voice as a writer. She stressed the importance of that reality and encouraged young writers to find their unique voice and develop the skills of literary embellishment along this line. She also spoke on the conscious need to maintain this voice until it grows into a brand. “The writer must find his audience long before he publishes his first book and when his book has been published, he must go out and look for these people to sell his books to,” she said. Hers was a practical class with a passion that ignited the rays of persuasion and conviction in the attendees. Efe Paul’s approach was full of humour as he addressed the subject with wit and intellect. Poetry for him is like man’s greatest discovery. Efe’s voice puts you in two extremes, with one conveying you through the panorama of the power of words and the other pulling you to the possibilities of growing rich by being a poet. His understanding of the subject and its active contraptions demonstrates to you how poetry has preserved the human dynasty over the years. Okechukwu Ofili has this knack for addressing common beliefs in ways that cause you to think it through over again. He spoke on the subject of performance, image and exposure. He stressed that the writer must develop an image visible enough to control his social space. He observed that people write every day on social media platforms but they still go about asking people to make them writers. He thinks we are all writers in our own rights. He encouraged every writer of this age to own a blog, use quality digital photographs on them and put up articles that share our thoughts on issues as they unfold. He highlighted the need to create links to all write-ups to enable people see us in a professional light. The rules of writing, he believes, are insignificant and he puts it this way: “The rules of writing are obstacles to writing itself. Your work will resonate so long as it is coming from an honest heart and a place of truth.” He also thinks a piece need not be laced with high sounding words and emphasized that simplicity is the true virtue of good writing. Mirian Chibuzor read from her book, The Girl Who Found Water. The book centers on community development as she shares her experiences as a youth corper posted to the dreaded Northern region of Nigeria. In conclusion, Connect Nigeria is a dynamic organization that understands the needs of this generation and its peculiar propensity. The colourful event organized by the team is a testament to this effect. This visionary concept will spark the desired change in Nigeria and in the continent of Africa at large.     About the Writer: Evans Ufeli is a lawyer and the author of acclaimed novel, ‘Without Face’. He is also an Alumni member of the Writers Bureau, Manchester, a highly sought-after conference speaker with a passion for the concept of change. He lives in Victoria Island, Lagos. You can contact him via Facebook: Evans Ufeli, Email: evanylaw@yahoo.com, Twitter: @Evansufeli and Phone: 08037712353. He blogs at www.ethicsafrica4u.wordpress.com.