Writers supported by Wole Soyinka
Foundation arrive Nigeria from Lebanon
September 24, 2017
Ten Nigerian writers supported by the
Wole Soyinka Foundation who left Nigeria for Lebanon have returned to the
country.
The writers had
travelled to Lebanon to participate in an exchange programme under the Study
Abroad In Lebanon, SAIL project, a programme of the Cedars Institute, Notre
Dame University, Lebanon, in collaboration with the Foundation.
The
participants arrived the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos, via an Ethiopian airline at about 12:20 p.m. on
Sunday.
The participants are
Oladele Faji, Khalid Imam, Salamatu Sule, Adenle Oloruntoba and Mary Aboekwe.
Others are Kassima
Okani, Wole Adedoyi, Temi Soyinka, Blessing Christopher and Christian Nayamali.
Speaking with
selected media platforms, including PREMIUM TIMES, at the reception lounge of
the airport on Sunday, the participants recalled their experiences during the
tour.
According to Ms.
Aboekwe, a reverend sister, the tour was a memorable experience as it afforded
participants the opportunity to explore the country.
Ms. Aboekwe noted
that before the trip, she had only associated Lebanon with war but had her
perception changed during the tour. She explained further that despite the war
experienced by the country, its people and government have moved on.
“No society is perfect but we have so
much to learn from Lebanon; they value dialogue so much, especially among
people of different religions,” she said.
“Most functional universities
(in Lebanon) are owned by individuals, mostly churches… Lebanon is home; a
place to be,” she added.
Another participant,
Mr. Oloruntoba, said Nigerians have so much to learn from Lebanon in terms of
preservation of culture.
“They still teach Chinua
Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in their universities,” said Mr. Oloruntoba, a
writer.
On her part, Ms.
Sule, another writer, said her experience was characterised by mixed feelings
because Nigeria and Lebanon share many things in common.
She explained that
she was fascinated by the people’s preservation of their culture and how they
embrace dialogue to settle rifts among themselves.
“We have to borrow
from the template,” she added.
Many of the
participants also expressed appreciation to the Wole Soyinka Foundation for its
support, stressing that it must be encouraged by Nigerians to continue in its
promotion of human capacity building among Nigerians.
The participants were
in Lebanon for an intensive course at the Cedars Institute in Lebanon, and they
also visited other places of historical importance in the country.
The first edition of
the SAIL project held in August 2016.
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