Abuja Writers Forum hosts Ozako, Omotayo for July readings
Maero Ozako, a spoken-word poet, motivational speaker, children’s author and artist, is author of five books for children and one for women titled ’WORDS OF WISDOM’’ which is the first in the W.O.W. (Words Of Wisdom) series designed as a compilation of poems and one-liners written straight from her heart. Her other books are “Fables […]
Maero Ozako, a spoken-word poet, motivational speaker, children’s author and artist, is author of five books for children and one for women titled ’WORDS OF WISDOM’’ which is the first in the W.O.W. (Words Of Wisdom) series designed as a compilation of poems and one-liners written straight from her heart. Her other books are “Fables For Children’’, both written and illustrated by her. The foreword for the two books was written by the late Lady Kofo Ademola. Her third book is ‘’Money Grows On Trees’’with a foreword by Dr Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Her other books are ‘’What If Everyday Was Christmas? and ‘’Words Of Wisdom For Children’’
Maero created the CHUMMIES CLUB, in the year 2001 as her contriubution to stop mental poverty amongst children. The Chummies Creative Academy, the Chummies Green Team and the Chummies Book Club are all part of this vision. The children of this club are taught basic skills in performance, photography and creative writing. Every Saturday, children read her pages in the This Day newspapers. She has conducted educational tours for children to countries like Ghana, Kenya and Dubai. She has has been engaged by the GTBank and First Bank to speak to children and is inspired by her daughter, Zulu.
She was born in Delta State to two educationists; Reverend Canon and Mrs Paul Ozako. She grew up in a ‘book castle’ and always dreamt of writing books. She attended the Federal Government Girls’College, Benin City before getting a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Benin.
Bobo Omotayo is a Director at R&B Public Relations Limited which specializes in corporate communications – reputation management, communication with non-consumer publics, persuasion, and spin for corporate concerns and brands.
Bobo is also known under the nom de plume ‘The Renaissance Man’. He has contributed as a columnist and freelance writer to several print, online newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, NEXT, BusinessDay, and BellaNaija.com.
In 2011, he published his first book; “London Life, Lagos Living”. In his words: “Initially apprehensive as to the likely public response, I am daily humbled by the public embrace of this labour of love by the reading public. A couple of thousand copies later, I am astounded by the depth of feedback from readers, who effuse about how the book has in some way or the other made them laugh, reflect, reason and more.”
The book has already led to the making of a 6-minute documentary, directed by LA-based filmmaker, Francesca Tilley-Gyado, is not so much a story of ‘the journey so far’ but more a snapshot into what a typical week is like for the author and contributors to the book. The documentary can be viewed at http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/07/07/watch-bobo-omotayos-london-life-lagos-living-the-documentary-by-francesca-tilley-gyado/
The Guest Writer Session which started in June 2008 is generally regarded as the most consistent literary event in the country and has become the template for similar interventions. So far this year it has featured an interesting mix of writers namely Uche Ezechukwu, Steve Okecha, Oyibo Ameh, K K Iloduba, Betty Abah, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Chido Onumah and Richard Ali.
The July 28, 2012 edition of the Guest Writer Session starts at 4pm and will include the usual side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition, and a raffle-draw as well as live music.
The Abuja Writer’s Forum meets three Sundays each month and hosts a reading on every last Saturday at the International Institute of Journalism, Hamdala Plaza, Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja.