Lifestyle
Odia Ofeimun @ 70: The Man Who Learnt At Awo’s Feet
By Augustine Adah
Odia Ofeimun who turned 70 on Monday received his due recognition with felicitations from President Muhammadu Buhari.
While celebrating the literary giant at 70, Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman Femi Adesina congratulated Ofeimun for the honour he has brought the country and the inspiration he has given to many.
The president extolled Ofeimun’s resilient spirit, discipline, focus and his unquenchable love for knowledge, attributes that catapulted him into the spotlight at a young age.
Buhari lauded Ofeimun for bringing fame at home, abroad, and many recognitions and awards for his colourful creative works.
Born on March 16, 1950 in Iruekpen-Ekpoma, Edo State, Ofeimun, however, built himself up as an intellectual in the Southwest rising to become a disciple of the Southwest’s greatest leader of the 20th Century, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Ofeimun actually, did not have the privilege of furthering his education after coming out of secondary school. He was forced to work as a news reporter, factory labourer and civil servant before gaining admission to study political science at the University of Ibadan.
At the university, he distinguished himself early as a poet winning a literary competition in 1975.
Ofeimun has authored more than 40 works. Among his published collections of poetry include The Poet Lied (1980), A Handle for The Flutist (1986), Dreams At Work and London Letter and Other Poems (2000). His poems for dance drama Under African Skies (1990) and Siye Goli – A Feast of Return (1992), were commissioned and performed across the UK and Western Europe by Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble in the early 1990s.
His most recent poem for dance drama, Nigeria The Beautiful, has been staged through major Nigerian cities.
Ofeimun received the Fonlon-Nichols Award for literary excellence and propagation of Human Rights, conferred on him by the African Literature Association in 2010.
Ofeimun etched his place in history when he was employed as the Private Secretary to the foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He is as such remembered as the man who learnt at the sage’s feet.
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