Oderinlo, Olagunju, Olowe To Headline Ibadan Book Carnival, Ibadan Book Achievement

 

ODERINLO, OLAGUNJU, OLOWE TO HEADLINE IBADAN BOOK CARNIVAL, IBADAN BOOK ACHIEVEMENT

The Ibadan Book Club has announced the trio of Zainab Oderinlo, Eniola Olagunju, and Olowe Inioluwa Victoria as headline writers for the 2025 Ibadan Book Carnival, the club’s end-of-the-year literary celebration. The annual event, which brings together writers, readers, and literary enthusiasts, also features the Ibadan Book Achievement, an award segment dedicated to recognising individuals and institutions that have supported the club from January to December.

According to the organisers, the Ibadan Book Achievement will honour guest writers who featured at the club’s sessions throughout the year, alongside sponsors, patrons, and members whose commitment has sustained the club’s activities. Awardees will receive certificates in appreciation of their contributions to the growth of the Ibadan Book Club and the broader literary community.

This development was contained in a press release issued in Ibadan by the Founder of the Ibadan Book Club, Wole Adedoyin. The statement described the Ibadan Book Carnival as both a celebration of literary excellence and a moment of reflection on the club’s journey, achievements, and impact within and beyond Ibadan.

Over the years, the Ibadan Book Club’s end-of-year gathering has evolved in name and scope, reflecting its growing influence. The event was known as the Ibadan Book Party in 2021, Ibadan Book Feast in 2022, Ibadan Book Fiesta in 2023, Ibadan Book Banquet in 2024, and now proudly bears the title Ibadan Book Carnival in 2025.

Similarly, the club’s annual award tradition dates back to 2021, when it was first held as the Ibadan Book Prize. Subsequent editions were named Ibadan Book Award in 2022, Ibadan Book Honour in 2023, and Ibadan Book Laurel in 2024, stressing the club’s consistent commitment to celebrating literary service and excellence.

The Ibadan Book Club also extended special appreciation to Dr. Awele Ilusanmi FANA, President of the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria and Founder of the Book Marketing Class Africa (BMACA), for her sustained monthly support. Her partnership has been instrumental in ensuring the continuity of the Club’s literary engagements and the successful hosting of the Ibadan Book Dialogue series.

Zainab Oderinlo, one of the headline writers, is a writer, poet, and mental health advocate. She emerged as the second runner-up in the 2025 VOICE4CHILD DEVATOP Writing Competition and is widely recognised for her advocacy for the rights of children and child domestic workers. Her writing is deeply influenced by her curiosity about the human mind and the works of poets such as Rudy Francisco, J. P. Clark, and Maya Angelou.

Currently studying English at the University of Ibadan, Zainab nurtures the ambition of publishing her own collection of poems. Her creative work continues to blend literary expression with social advocacy, particularly in the areas of mental health and child protection.

Eniola Olagunju is a language student in the Department of English, University of Ibadan, and an emerging writer whose interests span poetry, journalism, and landscape photography. Her poetry reflects a careful engagement with human experience, nature, and ethical questions arising from social and national challenges, approached through a reflective and disciplined craft.

She presently serves as the General Secretary of the Poetry Club, University of Ibadan, and is actively involved in literary programming within the university community. In addition to her creative pursuits, Eniola is developing a career in journalism with a focus on sports and news reporting, while her landscape photography offers a visual extension of her storytelling interests.

Olowe Inioluwa Victoria is a 200-level Theatre Arts student in the Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Lagos. Born and raised in Nigeria, she discovered her passion for storytelling and creative expression at an early age. Her writing journey gained prominence in 2022 when her piece My Life emerged among the top 60 finalists in the Literati Arts Competition at the University of Ibadan. In 2023, she presented another work titled Inioluwa to members of the Ibadan Book Club and is currently working on Motherhood, a forthcoming piece that explores the lived realities of single mothers.

 

LITACO Marks 7th Anniversary, Pledges Greater Support for Nigerian Writers

 

LITACO MARKS 7TH ANNIVERSARY, PLEDGES GREATER SUPPORT FOR NIGERIAN WRITERS

 

The Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria (LITACO) has marked its seventh anniversary, celebrating seven years of impactful service since its establishment in 2018.

The anniversary serves as a moment of thanksgiving to God Almighty for His grace, faithfulness, and divine guidance that have sustained the cooperative’s vision and steady growth over the years.

In a congratulatory message to members, the President of LITACO, Dr. Awele Ilusanmi, H.C, FANA, FMIMPS, expressed deep appreciation to the entire LITACO family for their unity, teamwork, and unwavering belief in the cooperative’s mission. She noted that it is the collective effort of members that has continued to transform shared dreams into visible achievements.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Dr. Ilusanmi announced a special appreciation package for all members. From now until the end of December 2025, every member will receive the sum of Seven Thousand Naira (₦7,000.00) in their accounts as a token of gratitude and celebration of LITACO’s seven-year milestone.

The President further thanked members for giving her the opportunity to serve, describing their support as a source of inspiration to continually do more and lead with excellence. She reaffirmed her commitment to serving diligently and to doing her best to ensure the happiness, growth, and fulfillment of every member of the cooperative.

Dr. Ilusanmi reiterated LITACO’s unwavering commitment to promoting a strong reading culture and positively impacting lives through books. She encouraged members to remain passionate about using literature as a tool for education, enlightenment, and social change within Nigeria and across the globe.

Looking to the future, she expressed confidence that 2026 will be a landmark year for the cooperative. According to her, the world will watch LITACO members read their books, celebrate their achievements, and gain broader international visibility and recognition.

She further projected that international communities will increasingly celebrate LITACO authors and reward their intellectual contributions, with opportunities that will see members earn global recognition and foreign currency income from their literary works.

In further appreciation of members’ dedication and teamwork, the leadership announced that all members will receive certificates of recognition and appreciation. This gesture, she said, reflects LITACO’s culture of gratitude and acknowledgement of collective effort.

The Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria is a registered cooperative with the Lagos State Government. Its core mandate is to promote reading culture while supporting and educating Nigerian authors on how to succeed in their writing careers. The cooperative has helped, is still helping, and will continue to help authors succeed through teamwork and shared responsibility.

Founded and led by literary entrepreneur Dr. Awele Ilusanmi, popularly known as the Queen of Books and a member of the 100 Prudent Women, LITACO provides financial support, professional services such as editing, printing, marketing, and branding, as well as career development and community building. The cooperative remains committed to helping writers grow from idea to book launch, strengthening Nigerian literature and empowering authors to thrive locally and internationally.

 

Awele Ilusanmi Bags Doctorate Degree from Prowess University

 

AWELE ILUSANMI BAGS DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM PROWESS UNIVERSITY

The President of the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria (LITACO), Mrs. Awele Ilusanmi (FANA), has been conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by Prowess University, Delaware, USA. 

The prestigious recognition was formally bestowed on her today, December 6, 2025, during a colourful investiture ceremony held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.

The award, which comes as a reward for her impactful contributions to literature, authorship development, and social advancement, was communicated through a letter dated November 28, 2025. 

The letter, signed by Prof. Otu O. Eyong, Chairman of the Award Selection Committee, described Ilusanmi’s nomination as a unanimous decision of the advisory board members of the MSME Institute of Management and Professional Studies (MIMPS), the institutional partner of Prowess University in Nigeria.

MIMPS, a professional management institute recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education and registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act with registration number 1936890, expressed confidence in Ilusanmi’s exemplary leadership qualities. The Institute, which also enjoys ISO accreditation for its Quality Management System (QMS), stated that the recognition aligns with its objective of promoting good governance and professionalism within Nigeria’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

According to the letter, Ilusanmi’s nomination for the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was based on her “impact, distinguished personality, love for humanity, and demonstration of integrity, priority, accountability, and transparency in quality service delivery in both private and public life.” The Award Selection Committee described her as a beacon of hope for the underprivileged and a firm believer in selfless service to humanity.

With this conferment, Mrs. Ilusanmi now reserves the right to use the prefix “Dr. (H.C)” before her name and the post-nominal title “FMIMPS.” The award committee, led by Prof. Eyong Ogbodim Otu, an experienced university scholar, noted that honourees like Ilusanmi are selected for their significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, especially through innovation, leadership, and advocacy.

Beyond her newly conferred academic honour, Mrs. Ilusanmi is celebrated for her multifaceted career as an author, speaker, literary agent, and social entrepreneur. She has penned several highly influential books, including Book Marketing Strategies That Work, Profitable Pages, Launch Money, and Comforting Arms, all of which have empowered writers and creative entrepreneurs across Africa.

As a literary agent with Publishizer, a U.S.-based crowdfunding and publishing support platform, Ilusanmi has played a pivotal role in connecting African authors to global audiences. Her work has opened international publishing opportunities for emerging and established writers, strengthening Africa’s presence in global literary circles.

She is also the founder of Book Marketing Class Africa (BMACA), a mentorship and training platform equipping authors with the skills needed to excel in the business side of writing. Through BMACA, Ilusanmi has mentored hundreds of writers on book marketing, audience building, and long-term authorpreneurship.

Her leadership influence extends significantly through her role as President and Co-founder of LITACO, an initiative focused on empowering Nigerian authors through cooperative strategies, business literacy, and collective growth. She has been a respected voice at major literary events, including the Lagos Books and Art Festival (LABAF) and Connect Nigeria Writers’ Conference, where she regularly speaks on publishing, literacy, and literary sustainability.

Mrs. Ilusanmi’s academic accomplishments—including a Master of Arts in Publishing Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree in French from Delta State University—continue to shape her work in the literary sector. Her mantra, “I See Only Possibilities,” has inspired countless writers who look up to her for motivation, mentorship, and guidance.

The honorary doctorate from Prowess University marks yet another milestone in her outstanding career, further cementing her status as one of Nigeria’s leading voices in literary development and author empowerment.