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The 2009 edition of The Treasured Writers (TTW), an annual summer writing workshop for children between ages 7 to 14 was concluded in Abuja on Saturday, September 5 with a picnic and prize giving ceremony. Veteran newscaster with the Nigerian Television Authority and author of In the Blink of an Eye, Eugenia Abu, engaged members of her TTW in various literary and skills acquisition exercises for six days during the workshop, tagged The Adventure and Charity Edition.
Mentoring sessions
Participants interacted with mentors who tutored them how to be what they want each day. The publisher of Street Hawkers magazine, Toyin Oke, taught the children how to produce and publish a magazine while public relations officer, Association of Nigerian Authors (north), Alkasim Abdulkadir who read excerpts from his Dauda and the Cockerel gave them tips on how to be journalists and columnists.
Radio presenter, Alice Akale, slam master of the Abuja Literary Society, Ken Ike Okere, author of 'Daydreams Etcetera and Other Stories', Elnathan John and others also shared useful tips with the children. Participants also had fun painting with Kingsley Aduaka, Vice President of Silverbird Designs. The younger brother of France based filmmaker, Newton Aduaka flew in from Cross River State to converse with the kids who thoroughly enjoyed themselves in his company.
Sightseeing
Participants also visited places of interest. They were the first official group visitors to the Silverbird Cinema in Abuja where they watched a film and were shown round the facilities, inaugurated a day after their visit. The excursions were the most important part of the exercise for some of the participants. 7-year-old Anita Anam from Pacesetters Academy said the most memorable event of the workshop for her was the visit to the Motherless Babies' Home at Gishiri where they interacted and presented gifts to the children.
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"The essence of this is to teach them kindness," Mrs. Abu said. "Earlier on, we had the leadership session where they were given leadership tips. To be a good leader, you need a kind heart. So, we thought there is a need for them to know that there are some people who, by no design of theirs, are less privileged." The children also visited the Abuja Film Village where they had a session with the Director General, Segun Oyekunle, on filmmaking and associated issues. Their field trips also included a tour of the post office at Area 10 in company of the Postmaster-General of the Nigerian Postal Service, Ibrahim Mori Baba.
The happy group of children also visited the Yar'Adua Centre and the Katampe Hill on the Kubwa/Kaduna Express way. They also visited Aso Radio Station and climbed the mountain during their excursion to the hill.
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Valuable lessons
Three participants who excelled in all the activities, especially the magazine making competition, received prizes including a one year supply of the Street Hawkers magazine and lunch with the facilitator among other goodies. The best magazine made by 10-year-old Rukky Itibe-Ogbubor will be published in the next edition of Street Hawkers. Itibe-Ogbubor, the overall winner at the summer class is a Junior Secondary School 1 student of Nigerian Turkish International School, Abuja. For her, the joy of winning cannot be compared to anything else. "I have learnt a lot of valuable things in these few days. For instance, we were taught how to pack our bags for mountain climbing, how to cross the road, and for the first time too, I visited a cinema. I am glad to have been part of it and would always want to come," she stated.
The second overall best participant was Abu's daughter, also called Eugenia. Little Eugenia said the highlight of the training was the visit to the motherless babies' home. "This is my first time of visiting an orphanage. Seeing those children abandoned by their parents touched me and made feel so sad." On her future plans, she said, "What we are taught is to carry our dream and run. So, my dream is to be a fashion designer and I am willing to pursue it."
Habeeb Bala, a 10-year-old Grade 6 student of Pacesetters Academy who came third said, "It's been great fun. This is my first time at the summer workshop and I would always want to come back." Bala added that he would like to be a writer and publish books that can change people and society.
When asked which Nigerian book he has read, the Plateau born 'writer-in-the-making' as he referred to himself at the workshop, replied, "That is what I am going to start doing now. To be a good writer, you have to be a good reader. So, I am going to start reading about my country and continent."
From 234next.com
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