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Redefiners (formerly called the Redefiners Publishing House) created the Redefiners Writing Challenge. Redefiners is an organisation founded by Omonefe Eruotor who is also the event organiser for the Writing Challenge. When asked why the competition, she said,
“My goal is to raise a generation of young people who believe they have something worth saying and will confidently lookout for ways they can contribute to making the world a better place.”Other partners of the project included The Bookworm Cafe, Chowilson Publishing and Pulchra Publishing. The Challenge was an avenue to encourage young people to express themselves through writing. This was the maiden edition, and it catered to Children between the age bracket 9-12 and 13-16. Entry fee for the contest was N1000. The competition required participants to submit a flash fiction story on the theme – My ideal Lockdown. The competition was in five stages. The first stage was the story submission which began and ended between 8th – 30th of June 2020. Next was the release of the names of participants who made the top 20 long list selection. Those chosen qualified for the third stage which was an interactive session and Writing Master Class which held on the 1st of August 2020 via Zoom app. While the names of the top three finalists in each age group category were the fourth stage of the competition which took place on the 8th of August 2020. The fifth and final stage is the publication of the submitted entries. The Judges evaluated the entries based on Plot, Grammar, Characterisation, Theme Interpretation, Originality, proper use of WHO precautionary measures, amongst other criteria. The Judges for the competition were: Tesiri Moweta who is an Author, a seasoned HR Professional and Business Consultant. Pamela Agboga who is also an Author, Writing Coach and CEO of ChoWilson Publishing. Ann Esievoadje, a Freelance Writer, Author and Creative head at Pulchra Publishing. And Farida Ladipo, the founder and Literacy Lead at Bookworm Cafe, a Literary Advocate and Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur. Ann Esievoadje and Pamela Agboga were also the facilitators of both the Interactive Session and Writing Master Class respectively.
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The cash prize for the first place finalists of both age category is N50,000 with a certificate of participation. Runners up get cash prizes of N30,000 (2nd place) and N20,000 (3rd place) and certificates of participation. Consolation prizes included free writers training for all long listed participants, free e-copies of The Quilt, a short stories Collection by Ann Esievoadje to 10 participants, and one hard copy of Worth Giving Up by Omonefe Eruotor to a randomly selected participant. The Winners of the Redefiners Writing Challenge are: Category 9 – 12 years old
- Orukome Useh (Winner)
- Louisa Ememadu (First Runner Up)
- Leilani Zuwena Gowon (Second Runner Up)
- Flourish Funmilayo Osayomwanbor (Winner)
- Levi Zawadi Gowon (First Runner Up)
- Favour Oluwafunmibi (Second Runner Up)
“I learned you shouldn’t be discouraged and to push forward to become a writer.” Zawadi Gowon “Thank you very much for this opportunity. Today’s session was highly informative and interesting.” Inioluwa AmoleThe last stage of the Redefiners Writing Challenge which is the release of the top 18 article entries in a publication will happen before the end of the last Quarter in 2020.
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