Creative writing skills for students

As part of his contribution to building creative writing skills among youths and further boost a sense of confidence in pupils in primary schools, Eze Obinna Uchegbulam, a young entrepreneur recently organised a Creative Writing Competition among 40 schools in Kosofe Local Government Area Lagos where Kemmer Gift, a 12 year old girl emerged the overall winner of the competition and had her write-up published into a novel.

Eze Obinna Uchegbulam, while speaking at the launch of the novel said what inspired the initiative was his for love creative writing, adding that he decided to groom younger minds in the primary school that can come out with creative stories, so he decided to put up a competition.

Uchegbulam disclosed that 40 schools were invited but 60 participated and two pupils represented each school that participated, so 60 participated adding that the competition was between primary 5 and 6.

“This is just like test marketing, in the future, as I continue with this project; I intend to reach out to all the primary schools in Lagos state. There are a lot of Nigeria Laureates like Chime Amanda, Wole Soyinka and others. I discovered there are only essay writing in the curriculum, I want creative writing to be included in the curriculum of primary schools,” he said.

Fumni Ijitusin, Coordinator Officer of the Creative Writing competition said the programme is about championing creative writing awareness in our children.

Ijitusin said the children were asked to do a creative writing on the topic ‘From Grace to Grass’ and the reward of emerging as the winner is to celebrate the launch of her novel.

According to her “This will help arouse the sense of confidence and hard work in children. We want to children not to limit themselves as a result of their ages and see themselves as people that can make it in life on their own. The overall winner is Kemmer Gift from St Francis Primary School. Maryland did very creative and interesting story, which could be read and enjoyed by both the young and old.”

She further revealed that a thousand copies has been published and it is to be sold to the students, parents and the head teachers of the school, so that it can be available in their school libraries and the proceeds from the sales will be given to the author, as part of the prize.

Kemmer Gift, the winner of the competition revealed that she reads novels and story books all the time and think about what I have read, painting the picture in my mind before putting it down in writing. She encouraged pupils to read more and learn how to write well.

Obioma Uchegbulam, President, Mary Green Development Initiative, financiers of the project said the association believes in the spirit of catch them young and taking it up from the primary level just explains its focus.

“We need to direct the children and help them discover their talents. Many children move out from their real direction into a different thing because they were not properly guided. That is why today, you see lawyers going into fashion designing, doctors drop their stethoscope and go into politics and other practical examples we can see. So, we said we needed to take it from the beginning,” Uchegbulam explained.

IFEOMA OKEKE