Date: 2017-02-03

The Initiator, MMGIVIT Charity Poetry Competition, Dr. Mohammed Akanbi, the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Dr. Kayode Adam and a former Vice-Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Olubola Babalola have expressed concern over the fading interest in poetry in secondary and tertiary institutions.

They stated that interest in poetry should be rekindled in secondary and tertiary institutions in the country since it is a unique literary device that promotes intellectual growth, humanity and charity.

The dons spoke during the MMGIVIT Charity Poetry competition held on Tuesday at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State.

Eight secondary schools from Ilorin participated in the competition. They are Nana Aisha Academy, Rehoboth College; Muslim Model Secondary School; Busari Alao College; Government Day Junior Secondary School; Government Secondary School; Federal Government College; and Unilorin Secondary School.

A 17 year-old student of the Government Day Secondary School, Ikeh, David, emerged the winner in the SSS category of the competition while Dada Tomiloba of Rehoboth College won the second position. Aboyeji Richard of UNILORIN JSS came first in the JSS category, while Odeh Yunus of Rehoboth College came second. Bello Mariam of Busari College emerged the best female poet in the junior category. The winners of the first and second positions were rewarded with cash and other items.

Akanbi said he was motivated to embark on the programme so as to address the abject poverty in the country. He said, "Poetry is an initiative to catch them young. Poetry is abstract and touches the heart. Apart from helping the literary skills of the competitors, it will also promote charity in their minds.

"Poetry comes from the soul. You cannot act it, it is something that is innate and we want charity to come from within. We believe that poetry is one of the vehicles that we can use to promote charity in our society."

Babalola, who is also the first female professor of Quantity Surveying in Africa, said thatb poetry had not been given a pride of place in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

She added that the trend should be reversed. Adam said poetry has entertainment and inspirational attributes. He stated that the study of poetry should not be limited to secondary schools but should extend to even all disciplines in tertiary institutions.

He said, "Poetry can be a source of entertainment. It can also inspire people to do good things. Tertiary institutions should embrace the idea of promoting poetry. It should not be left to primary or secondary schools.

"Tertiary institution should also do it. It should be limited whose specialty is in literary programme or in Literature. It should cut across all disciplines of tertiary education."