An interview with ‘Bomi Adamson, the president of the Okigbo Poetry Club of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies, University of Ibadan. In the interview with Ogunleye Esther, he shares his vision for fostering creativity, creating a supportive community for members, and promoting the appreciation of diverse poetic styles and voices within the club.

Brief introduction about yourself.

‘Bomi Adamson.

What inspired you to start the club?

I did not start the club. I have only been a part of a group of people who revived it.⁠

What are your visions for the club as President?

Okay. It’s not MY vision, but OUR vision. Anyway, we’ve already put in motion all of our set goals. And, thankfully, we have achieved a great percentage of them. We have increased the visibility and gained the club a great deal of popularity among UITES and students of other schools through social media and physical contact. And we won’t stop. Next, we are going to publish an anthology — with hardcover copies placed in the department’s library and some other libraries across the university.There are some other plans I will not share now because we must let our members hear them from us first.

How will the club foster a sense of community among its members?

“Will”?No. Does. We already do that. So it’s not something we’re still working on. We have both physical and virtual arrangements for nurturing the bond shared among our members. And you should be present at one of our weekly meetings to witness it.

Do you have plans to make the club visible and accessible to all?

As I said, we have worked very well on that. So we’re keeping to the plans that are working for us, regarding being visible and accessible to all. If you’re asking about how new members can join the club, all they need to do is get the club identity card which is also part of the achievements we boast of so far.

The Okigbo poetry blog was created recently.What is the purpose of the blog?

Yes, it was done recently. The purpose is clear. Literary works get lost or forgotten all the time as a result of poor management and lack of proper bookkeeping.The blog is to ensure our members, come 50 years, can still access their most treasured verses.Aside from that, the blog also serves as an E-library for anyone interested in our members’ works.

⁠Has the Okigbo Poetry Club’s anthology been released?

Not yet. We recently unveiled the cover of the book. In the same way, we’ll announce the release date.

Can I get an insight into the anthology’s theme?

No. If people are interested in the theme, they should kindly watch the clip of the unveiling.

Does the club hope to receive support for the anthology?

Yes, absolutely. Publishing a book is no small enterprise. So, yes. We’ll need all the support we can get, both in cash and in kind.

Who is the intended audience for the blog?

Everyone. Every poet and lover of poetry. We have a link to the site that we regularly share.

⁠⁠Is the anthology a one-time project?Or should we expect more anthologies in the future?

It’ll be the first volume. As long as I am president, you can expect more volumes. And I sincerely hope that the next people who will take the baton will make it a tradition.

Any words for people who’ll be reading this interview?

The Okigbo Poetry Club is not just a club for poets. It’s a community, a family, of people who appreciate the power of written and spoken words. It is time to dispose of the wrong notion that poetry is ambiguous and boring. This club will change your view of poetry as being insignificant in the 21st century, if you attend our next meeting on Friday.

We make poetry fun and inspiring. We are cooking greatness. Be part of it!