"I Owe my Win to God and My Parents." - Winner of the 2024 OAU Inaugural Poetry Contest

By
Ayanfe Oluwafemi

On Sunday, 9th June 2024, Mercy Olagunju, a 100-level Department of Foreign Languages (German) student, was pronounced winner of the 2024 OAU Inaugural Poetry Contest, themed "The Legacy", and sponsored by Bloom Africa. The event was held in the TV room of the Ken Saro Wiwa Students' Union building of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

In an interview with the winner, she likened how she felt to that of a champion, after she was announced "the Legacy Hero." As she clings to the title of the 3rd inaugural poet in OAU, she commented that nothing equated to her emotions at that moment.

Mercy, giving a run-through of her experience, said, "I got to know about the contest from Memunat Ali (the first Inaugural Poet on the OAU campus) when I had the opportunity to meet her at a conference and told her of my intention to be the next "Memunat Ali." Then she told me about the contest and nudged me to give it a try."

Giving details of the programme, she added, "The contest had four total rounds; the first had over 50 of us, and we were asked to submit written poems in document form with specified criteria for submission. After this, 17 of the over 50 entries were selected to go on for the next three rounds." 

"The second stage was the coaching stage, where we got classes on poetry to brief us and add more knowledge to what we were about to take up. Then, the 3rd and 4th stages were both on Sunday." 

"The 3rd stage had all 17 of us perform poems with different themes, and then 6 of these 17 scaled up to the finals where we had to perform our poems as well, but this time with a restricted theme to leadership and after this stage, the Legacy Hero was to be selected," Mercy explained. 

The 3rd inaugural poet in OAU gave further insight into the winning effect.
She said, "No cash price was attached to the contest, but I got the most thoughtful parcel, a short congratulatory note/letter from the organizer. Aside from that, the win was a big spotlight in my career as a poet. I saw it as an open door to opportunities and even started to experience it within just a few hours of winning."

Mercy added that she owes the win to God, her parents who saw her through life, and anyone the win will inspire.

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