Ayokunle Samuel Betiku, Osho Tunde and Yvonne Nezianya are the winners of the 9th edition of the annual Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize, EOPP 2020. Judged by Su’eddie Vershima Agema, Funke Awodiya, Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom and Jide Badmus, this year’s edition of the prize awards ₦100,000 in cash prize to the top three poems.
‘BEYOND THE VEIL OF WALLS’ by Ayokunle Samuel Betiku is the overall best poem out of almost five hundred eligible entries. The second-placed poem is ‘SEARCHING THROUGH THE HEAVENS’ by Osho Tunde while Yvonne Nezianya’s ‘DEATHLESS EYES’ completes the top three.
EOPP 2020 winner, Ayokunle, will receive ₦50,000 while runners-up Osho and Nezianya will get ₦30,000 and ₦20,000 respectively.
Other poets who made the Top 20 shortlist are Tukur Ridwan, Ehi-Kowochio Ogwiji, Idio Phebe Ehikowoicho, Nnadi Samuel Ifeanyi, Abdulbaseet Yusuff, Olaitan Universe (2), Offor, Wisdom Ogbonna Ebuka Evans, Oluwatosin Ayobami, Shedrack Opeyemi Akanbi, Chisom Charles Nnanna, Blessing Omeiza Ojo, Rahma O. Jimoh, Aiyejinna Abraham O. (2) and Pamilerin Jacob. All the top 20 poems are featured in an anthology titled BEYOND THE VEIL OF WALLS after the winning entry.