Highly talented upcoming spoken word poetess shares her writing experience

Interview conducted by Blessed Adjekpagbon

In this interview with Bulkybon News, a highly gifted Nigerian upcoming poetess, Peace Ileleji shares information about her background in the field of writing, says “I started writing poems at the age of 10”

Qst: What is your discipline or area of study and which school did you attend?

Ans: I'm a graduate of English and Literary Studies from the Delta State University, Abraka.

Qst: Which genres of literature do you specialize in?

Ans: Poetry and prose.

Qst: When did you start writing and what gives you the inspiration to write?

Ans: I started writing poems at the age of 10 after discovering my talent for poetry at age 7. However, reading the Book of Psalms and performing Prof. Patrick Lumumba's powerful piece, 'If Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba were to rise up' at my secondary school's Graduation and Prize Giving Day ignited my passion to craft verses that inspire and uplift. What gives me inspiration is reading and touring because it stirs me up to fill a gap in knowledge via my words.

Qst: Have you written any published creative work either as a book or featured in a newspaper?

Ans: Not yet but soon.

Qst: Are you a member of any writers’ association in Nigeria or outside Nigeria?

Ans: Yes, the Creative Writer's Workshop (CWW).

Qst: Have you attended any writers conference or convention before?

Ans: Yes, last year I attended the Southcosels '23 in Bayelsa State.

Qst: Are you interested in meeting other writers to perform your spoken words with them?

Ans: Yes it will be my utmost pleasure.

 Qst: Will you encourage any of your children (if you are already married or in future) to do what you are creatively involved in now?

Ans: Yes I will because I see life in Word Art. It cultivates critical thinking, creative expression and effective communication.

Qst: Who is your idol in in the field of creativity that you have decided to showcase your skills in?

Qst: Ib Quake.

Qst: What is motivating you to do what you are doing (promoting Nigerian culture through spoken words) now in the present tough situation Nigerians are facing?

Qst: Well, the contemporary Nigeria society is experiencing a silent exodus of her citizens popularly called 'japa' and my daily interactions with youths and teens as a Teens Coordinator in my church, let me into the life of young people and their constant fears about the fate of the remaining citizens of a 'japad' (deserted by many citizens for greener pastures abroad) nation. I recently went on a tour to six different states where I saw the true beauty of nature in Nigeria. So, I believe as we are blessed with these resources, there is definitely hope for a better future.

Qst: How many languages among the many languages in Nigeria do you speak? What is your state of origin?

Qst: I speak Igbo (not perfect though but beginner's level). I'm from Delta State and Urhobo by tribe.

Qst: How do you spend your free time and what is your favourite meal?

Qst: I love spending time with my family and close friends. Also, travelling, reading books, cooking and listening to music uplifts me. Lastly, my favourite meal is Naija jollof and fried plantain.

 END

Calculus College sets pace for academic excellence, sports development

 

Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

It was a very entertaining sight penultimate week ago when the junior (JSS) and senior (SSS) students of Calculus College played two rounds of football matches to showcase their mastery of football skills, at the Aiyedere Sports Ground, Ketu, Lagos. 

Mr. Ifeanyi Egenti,
Calculus College proprietor.

While the SSS team was captained by Femi Animashaun, the JSS side was led by Victor Nwagwu. The first round match ended in favour of the senior team who trounced the junior side with seven goals against the junior who scored only two. However, during the second round, the junior team who might have gone to consult the god of soccer during the interval of rest, came back smoking with tactical skills that made their seniors' jaws drop in awe.
During the second round, the junior showcased great technical depth that the senior team had no rival antidote for. At the end of proceedings, the match ended with six goals in favour of the junior team while the seniors managed to score only two.
Nonetheless, during a chat with Bulkybon News, the proprietor of Calculus College, Mr. Ifeanyi Egenti, popularly known as Mr. Solution gave insight about the school's background and why he encourages his students to engage in sporting activities coupled with academic orientation.
He said "I have been a tutorial center owner since 2012, preparing people for external exams such as the WAEC, JAMB, SAT and TOEFL. My motivation for delving into the educational sector is to educate and transform dull students to excellent students."

Some Calculus students swimming in a pool
at Magodo Estate.

When asked why he is called Mr. Solution, he informs that "The name of my tutorial centre is Solution Tutorial College. I chose the name 'Solution' because l believe l am a problem - solver, especially in Mathematics, as l am a specialist in the field."
On the reason he established Calculus College in 2014 while still operating a tutorial centre till date, the Anambra - born highly gifted Mathematician offers that "l observed that most private schools are not producing good students for academic excellence at secondary level; hence, l decided to establish Calculus College to add my quota towards improving the academic excellence of students."
He also posits that "The only challenge l have been facing is that most teachers are not willing to do their best because of the poor economic situation in the country. This makes it quite challenging to retain good teachers for a long time, because many keep engaging in other activities that can fetch them money than teaching."

Calculus students displaying football
skills at Aiyedere Sports Ground, Ketu.

 

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In conclusion, the proprietor avers that "There is a saying that 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' That is why I engage my students in sporting activities as a form of exercise and opportunity to discover their sporting talents. You can recall that many talented Nigerian footballers were discovered in the olden days during secondary schools academicals football competitions. My students practice football every Saturday every week, except on every last Saturday of every month when they engage in swimming practice at a very decent swimming pool in Magodo Estate, Ketu, Lagos." 

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Do you want to become an Actor or Actress? Read this

 By: lsaac Daniels

Bulkybon Publications Company in collaboration with Guaranteed Success Academy are set to engage in training Nigerians based in Lagos State community, who are interested in becoming actors and actresses in the field of dramaturgy.

Bulkybon’s Managing Director, Mr. Blessed Adjekpagbon, is a reputable multiple award winning teacher, poet, playwright and novelist, with over ten books authored by him. He has been involved in acting and drama publication over the years.

According to him, "Mr. Adeoye Olayiwola, the Principal Coordinator of Guaranteed Success Academy is a very understanding and entertaining person to run any drama training programme with. He has the interest of the youth at heart, like l do. The drama training programme is aimed at channeling interested individuals' energy and talent into acting drama, for the positive change of society."

Speaking further, Adjekpagbon informs that, "Besides, Mr. Adeoye has the space that is fit for the type of programme we are into. It is not just about acting, participants will also be taught the art of script writing for both visual (video) and audio (radio) dramas."

Those who are interested in learning different acting skills, or like to improve their talent in acting, should visit Guaranteed Success Academy, 23, Love - All Street, Ikosi - Ketu, Lagos (There is a big tree at the front of the compound). Registration form for the programme is Five thousand naira (N5,000), only. Training material will be given to those that register for the programme.

For any further inquiry; please, call  08086233383, 08067538922 (Whatsapp: 08059265333).

 

Ebedi Fellows Mentor Olivet Students

By

Blessed Adjekpagbon
(Ebedi Fellow, 2024)

The current set of the Writers at the Ebedi International Writers Residency, Iseyin, Nigeria on Monday, 12th February 2024 visited the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo to mentor some of the students in the area of creative arts.

The four Fellows standing behind the Principal 
and some of the senior students of the school

The Writers made up of three Writers from Nigeria and one from Ghana were well received by the Principal of the school, Mrs. Bukola Dosumu.

It was a very engaging and fulfilling event for the students as they listened with rapt attention to the writers.

Some of the subjects taught included:  the fundamentals of writing good drama, prose, poetry and script writing for screen plays.

At the end of the event, the students were full of gratitude to the visiting writers, and wished for another mentoring workshop in the school.

During the concluding session, the Writers equally applauded the school's management for what they considered to be the school's high standard of education and ambiance.

Some of the facilities that impressed the writers included the school's special building for visual arts, a standard laboratory, well stocked and spacious library, two big football pitches, spacious classrooms, a large staff room and a neat administrative building.

The visitors were also impressed by the 1000 capacity school hall as well as the general neatness of the students and the environment.

The school Principal thanked the Writers for their visit which she believed will greatly enrich creative writing among the students.

She also appreciated the books donated to the school Library through the visiting writers by the Patron of the Ebedi International Writers Residency, Dr. Wale Okediran.

The Ebedi International Writers Residency is a free facility for Writers in need of a conducive environment to complete their ongoing works.

Since its establishment in 2010, it has hosted about 300 Writers from 12 African Countries. 

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Before Thinking Of Climbing Ebedi Hill, Read This

By Blessed Adjekpagbon   

Left to right: Blessed Adjekpagbon, Adeniran
Abdbasit Adeyemi
and Abdurahman Muhammed

There is a magnificent hill standing like the rock of Gibraltar behind Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin town, Oyo State, South - West, Nigeria. No Ebedi Fellow had ever climbed the tough hill to its crest before. 

Hence, on the 27th of January 2024, at about 11:30am, three fellows namely. Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga, Adeyemi Basit and Abdulrahman Muhammed Abu - Yamam, that are the current fellows of the 2024 First Edition programme of the Ebedi International Writers Residency, decided to tread on it to the peak. But only one of the fellows succeeded in reaching the top as the other two fizzled out just before getting to the middle of the highest peak among the four peaks that adorns the hill. We were accompanied by the young security staff of the residency, whose name is Mr. Gideon Shadrach. He is the only person who ventured to climb with me from where the two others capitulated. 

Gideon Shadrach and Blessed
Adjekpagbon on top of  Ebedi Hill

The hill is very long. It lies latitudinally on the north - eastern side toward the western area of the town. Its length is approximately five to six miles from the Writers Residency axis down towards the western part of the town. It has four peaks projecting on its lengthy topography. The height is approximately up to that of a 30 to 40 storey building. It is far higher than the tower of the Murtalar Muhammed's lnternational Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. The tower is like a David or an ant standing beside Goliath, when compared to the
Ebedi Hill in focus. I have been to the last floor of the international airport tower before, in 1998, when one of my friends was the Chief Security Officer of the SSS (State Security Service), Murtalar lnternational Airport in the days of yore. 

As for the hill, you cannot see the roof of any building in Ebedi Writers Residency and its immediate environment, except a scanty sight of trees below while at its peak. At the mid-section of the hill,  all the roofs in Ebedi looked very tiny like the cups of sardine. After that level, they become invisible to the eyes like when an airplane gets to an altitude in the sky and you can no longer see the houses on the ground well, or at all. That is on the Southern part of the northern hill.. Its surface is inhabited by shrubs and fairly big and medium height trees, whose roots holds firmly into the rocky laced soil. The bottom part of it is the steepest and pretty difficult to climb to a little bit before the midsection. From the midsection, the surface is gravitationally much better to climb with steady climb and less energy consuming to the crest. Some stubborn trees that were disobedient to the command of some powerful winds, were crushed down at different areas of the hill; as there is a common traditional saying that, "When the wind blows, all trees must bow. Any tree that disrespects the commanding strides of a powerful wind, will be crushed down."

 However, the northern part of the hill is embodied with a huge presence of swamp and a large river. From my assessment as a semi - skilled geographer, l observed that the northern part of the hill is highly dangerous to descend to view the base where the mangroove swamp is. It is the source and epic centre of ferocious misty winds that usually travel from the alluvium swamp to the crest, before descending its velocity to the southern side of the hill. This upward climb of the wind from the northern part of the hill and its downward plunge to the southern part of it, is the reason the southern part is cosy nearly all day long. That is why any occupant of the residency can hear the touching of the wind on the sliding windows. It sometimes make curtains to go airborne like birds in nuptial flight. When you happen to be a fellow at the residency, don't be frightened when you hear the glasses of the sliding windows slightly shaking, it is the handiwork of the cool travelling winds from the northern section of the hill, tapping on the windows, to keep reminding you to write and make sure you complete your target writing project, before the duration of your stay gets exhausted. 

Nonetheless, centuries of denudation of the northern part of the hill's topography by wind erosion, has created adverse effect on it, and makes it very steep unlike the southern side which is less dangerous to climb without hill climbing or mountaineering tools. From my observation, it is very rare to see any of the natives climbing or descending from the hill. This could be because of its frightening view from below. It is abundantly populated by trees, and tends to make someone think there could be wild animals living on it.

During my ascent and descent with others aforementioned, we saw no animal on it. Only birds kept chirping at some points, as if to question our audacity of coming to their abode.

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Apostle Ephraim celebrates 61st birthday, looks forward to successful Easter convention

 

Written by Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon

 Apostle Ephraim Uwamarin

The General Overseer of Fountain of Salvation Ministry, Apostle Ephraim Uwamarin who clocked 61 years on Thursday 4 January 2024 expresses his gratitude to God for giving him and his family good health and peace while marking the remarkable day in his life span so far.
In a chat with Bulkybon News, he posited that "I thank God for keeping me and my family healthy to celebrate my 61st year on earth. The greatest thank anyone should give to God is for being alive any day one wakes up "
When asked how he still keep looking fit and smart like an under - thirty Super Eagles striker, despite his advancing age, he said: "I do exercise a lot. I usually engage in long walks everyday, to be in good shape."
However, he pointed that "Even though the call to serve as a vessel to win souls is not an easy task, God is always there as my supporter to overcome challenges, as long as l am doing what the Holy Spirit direct me to do."
While smiling and laughing from time to time, in his usual friendly manner during the chat, he said he is looking forwarded to a successful Easter convention, billed to take place from March 29 to April 1, 2024. He therefore expect those truly looking for salvation to attend the event. He frowns at the rate many nowadays so-called messengers of God have been placing more emphasis on material acquisition at the detriment of true salvation over the years in the Nigerian society.
Nonetheless, he says "Though it is not sin to be materially successful in the right ways, salvation is supreme to all material things. I therefore urge everyone looking for true salvation of his / her soul, to attend the forthcoming Easter convention, that will take place at our worship centre; Fountain of Salvation Ministry, 11, Aladelola Street, Off Ikosi Road, Ketu, Lagos."
In his concluding remark, the very jovial but frank messenger of God emphasized the need for the well - to - do members in any gospel - oriented congregation of God's disciples, to make it a habit of assisting the less privileged among them. According to him, "This will help to reduce the burdens hindering many from truly serving God in spirit and truth."
Those that are familiar with the Apostle's way of life for over twenty years, could testify about his kindness of assisting widows and other needy folks in his congregation, as God provides. He does not make a public show of how he has been assisting those in need, to attract crowd as many crowd-mongering so-called men of God are known for.

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Absurdities of modern time situations

 

Book: A Vase of Shrubs
Author: Victor Bruce
Publisher: Oracle Books Limited, Lagos, Nigeria
Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

A Vase of Shrubs, Victor Bruce's first collection of short stories is woven around the themes of prostitution, illiteracy, frustration, greed, poverty, fear, corruption and environmental uncleanliness in the Nigerian and African society at large. It is an attempt at exploring the gloomy sides of human nature that calls forth upsetting glimpses into a violent world no further than a twist of the imagination.

It is written in a unique narrative style defying the logicality of analogies, defying systems of thought that tend to force men into intellectual conventionality. The author hopes however, that it could bring a positive change if men could microscopically examine and turn our past and present failures into tomorrow's gains.  The first story in the collection titled When Pearls Are Gone, is a reflection of the sufferings many orphans and widows go through after the demise of their bread winners. Killing fellow human beings for money rituals and its consequences are the central concern of the story. A consanguine who is supposed to take care of his late brother's child, ironically used the child to perform rituals for money making. But at last, nemesis caught up with him as indicated in the following statement by a character in the story; "Chief has been put in jail." Lady Maggi muttered. "And likely to spend the rest of his life there," she concluded as Iya Ibeji rolled over into a lengthy six hour sleep.

Birth Certificate for Visa, is a very interesting story that could make any lover of humour laugh to the extent of cracking his or her ribs. The craze for certificate possession by every Tom, Dick and Harry in the society nowadays is the focal point of the story. A stack illiterate who cannot read and write, let alone express herself in standard simple English, had wanted to travel outside the country for greener pastures, was duped of her hard earned money by a con man who gave her a birth certificate as visa to travel with. Hear Bruce in one of the following paragraphs in the story; "Although having no previous knowledge of it, she had asked about Bolaji's mission. When Mariam said that he had only just stopped by to say hello, she knew she was not telling the truth... With this revelation, Mariam rushed for her box, reached for the envelope and gave it to Mrs. Rebecca to confirm if actually it is a visa... Mrs. Rebecca unfolded the paper and the first underlined statement that made contact with her eyes was, "Birth Certificate."

Another funny but very good lesson-teaching piece for those who are always in the habit of hoarding fuel, is the story titled Nemesis of A fuel Hoarder. It is very saddening that after the multiple petroleum pipes explosion fire outbreaks that has made many people lose their lives in our society, some people are still engaging in the act of hoarding fuel and breaking petroleum pipelines to scoop fuel. The most annoying part of it is that when there is a fire outbreak caused by the activities of the notorious fuel hoarders, many innocent people are made victims of the condemnable act.  And in most cases, those involved in the act of pipelines vandalism are drunkards and irresponsible people who use their frustration to hurt other hard working and law-abiding citizens living in the society, as depicted by Kendo, the central character in the story. The incessant electric power outage is not helping matters too, as people tend to keep fuel in their houses to run their generator sets. 

Death and The Drama of a Night is a metaphorical representation of the hardship facing many Nigerian graduates these days, striving without getting employed to earn a living after all the stressful and frustrating learning conditions and years spent in the Nigerian University system, to earn a degree. It is also a portrayal of the short life span of modern days people compared to the good old days when our predecessors live up to a very ripe age before joining their ancestors.
Other stories in the book that are thought provoking include Just A Nightmare; A Grandless Gift; Sammy; Station View Hotel; A forgiving Woman; Heaven is not Deceived; and Pots of Atonement. The stories each, has one societal ill or the other they condemn, such as robbery, prostitution, infidelity, and environmental uncleanliness among other numerous ills in Africa. The beauty of the stories lies in the fact that, for every evil or corrupt act committed by any character in the stories, there is always a punishment for it at the end of the day. The stories are very engaging and could make any reasonable person involved in any of the condemnable acts, to have a change of attitude, bearing in mind that if he or she does not desist or repent, the nemesis that befell the perpetrators of such acts in the stories, could also one day happen to him or her. With A Vase of Shrubs, Victor Bruce has proven himself as not only a good poet and musician, but also an entertaining story teller for positive change in the society.     

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