NCC honours maiden creative writing competition winner, Ojutalayo, in Ibadan

Nigerian Copyright Commissions (NCC), on Thursday in Ibadan, honoured Miss Firdaous Ojutalayo, winner of the maiden NCC Creative Writing Competition.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that Ojutalayo, a Senior Secondary School II student of Muslim Model College, Ibadan, was presented with a plaque and a laptop.

NCC Director-General, Dr John Asein, called on corporate bodies and relevant authorities to invest in children, wherever they might be in the country.

Asein, who was represented by Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, urged people to support them whenever their talents were being exhibited, whether in spoken word, poetry or creative writing.

“If a child does not see that society is encouraging writing, he/she may begin to feel that there isn’t a future in writing.

“So, I call on the corporate world to put more of their resources in those areas that will nurture and provide the manure for these talents to grow,” he said.

Asein commended all the participants who poured their hearts and souls into their written works, describing the talent and creativity displayed in the competition as inspiring.

“Some of the challenges the commission encountered while organising the competition is the bureaucracy of getting to government schools.

“This is a rather unhealthy situation as children in public schools are being denied the opportunity of showing their talents,” he said.

The NCC boss called on education authorities, especially the ministries of education, both at the state and federal levels, to open up the space to allow the children express themselves.

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He assured that NCC would publish the winning essays, poems and short stories to encourage the children.

The director-general, who said that the competition had come to stay, urged children to continuously participate as it would help nurture their talents.

“As we celebrate the achievements of our winners, let us also reflect on the importance of fostering a culture of creativity and imagination.

“By encouraging and supporting the literary endeavours of individuals, we will empower them, share their unique stories and contribute to the broader cultural and creative fabric of our society,” he said.

NCC Coordinator in Oyo State, Mrs Olabisi Ogundiran, said that Ojulatayo had emerged winner of the creative writing competition out of the 700 entries submitted nationwide.

She urged Ojutalayo not to relent on the feat, while appealing to other students to take a cue from her courage and passion for academic excellence.

Ogundiran also assured the students that their creative works would be published and protected by NCC.

The Principal, Muslim Model College, Ibadan, Mrs Fatimah Alao, appreciated Ojutalayo for doing the school proud in the competition..

Alao commended the NCC for organising the competition and honouring the winners, saying such would further encourage and improve them academically.

Alhaji Kola Animashaun, the Governing Board Chairman of the school, said that the school was a baby of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Animashaun said that the school was established to provide standard education, morally-upright and excellent students for the society.

He urged them to see Ojutalayo’s triumph in the competition as a challenge, adding that they should read wide for greater improvement.

In her remarks, Ojutalayo thanked her parents for their unwavering love, support and encouragement, describing them as her guiding light.

“You have instilled in me the values of perseverance and hard work,” she said.

Ojutalayo appreciated the academic environment and standard provided by the board and management of the school.

She said that the facilities and the efforts made by the school played significant roles in her emergence as winner of the competition.

VMT NEWS reports that NCC also donated books in various subjects to the school library, while Junior Secondary School students got a literature book each.

The event was attended by the parents of the honouree, Mr and Mrs Olusanjo Ojutalayo, the MAN Chairman, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Ganiy and staffers of the school.

NCC honours maiden creative writing competition winner, Ojutalayo, in Ibadan