Symposium in honour of Ukala, Yeibo holds in Abraka

ALL is now set for the Department of English and Literary Studies of the Delta State University, Abraka to host a symposium in honour of the dramatist, Professor Sam Ukala and the poet, Ebi Yeibo. The symposium, which is woven around the creative endeavours of both writers, will hold on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the new 1000LT at the university’s permanent site. The event is a mark of honour for the two writers who were last year garlanded for their distinctive literary works.

  Sam Ukala won The Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by LNG with Iredi War, a play, while Ebi Yeibo won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for poetry with The Fourth Masquerade. Ukala took his first degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before veering off into Theatre Arts. He presently teaches Theatre at Abraka. Yeibo also took his first degree in English at Abraka and later proceeded for postgraduate studies at Ibadan. He now teaches in the Department of English at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma in Bayelsa State.

  In a statement released by Dr. Sunny Awhefeada on behalf of the department, the symposium is aimed at opening up the two works to literary criticism and public engagement. Dr. Godfrey Enita will lead the discussion on Iredi War with the theme ’Sam Ukala’s Iredi War: Celebrating a History of Resistance and a Nation at Crossroads’ while Steve Kekeghe will do the same for Yeibo’s The Fourth Masquerade by addressing the topic ‘The Fourth Masquerade: Allegiance to Homeland or Nation? A Writer’s Dilemma’ Both lead speakers will be joined by a panel of discussants made up of Karo Ilolo, Kennedy Edegbe, P.K. Igugu, Peter Omoko, Henry Unuajohwofia and Emmanuel Esemedafe.

  The symposium which will be chaired by Professor G.G. Darah, has the University’s Dean of Arts, Professor Austin Anigala as guest of honour, Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Peretomode will be guest of honour, while Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education Professor Hope Eghaha is special guest of honour. The event begins at 9am.