Covenant University’s Department of Languages marked its inaugural celebration of World English Day with an engaging, multi-faceted event that drew students, faculty, and literary enthusiasts from across the University. Held on April 30, 2025, at the College of Leadership Development Studies/College of Management and Social Sciences Hall, the program featured poetry, recitals, talks, and discussions centered on English language appreciation.
In her opening remarks, Head of the Department, Dr. Lilly Chimuanya, welcomed guests from various colleges including Engineering, Science and Technology, and Management and Social Sciences. She emphasized the unifying power of language, noting that, ‘words shape reality, and communication is indispensable to human interaction.’ Dr. Chimuanya highlighted English as a global connector, essential across disciplines - science, medicine, law, and culture - despite the rich diversity of native languages.
She encouraged students from non-literary fields to tap into their creative potential, reminding them that many renowned writers emerged from backgrounds in engineering, medicine, and law.
Dr. Jonathan Odukoya, Dean of the College of Leadership Development Studies and representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Anake, commended the interdepartmental participation. He urged aspiring writers to embrace rigorous research and not fear rejection, as perseverance often precedes recognition in the literary world.
One of the day’s highlights was a talk by Ms. Modupe Daramola, Founder and Project Lead of Noisy Streets, a platform dedicated to nurturing young African storytellers. She outlined the organization’s three branches: book publishing, a podcast series, and a literary magazine. “Every young African has a story to tell,” she said, stressing her team’s commitment to helping students bring those stories to life.
Covenant alumnus, Mr. Nnamdi Ohirim, shared his journey from engineering to storytelling, describing how a passion he’d nurtured since secondary school eventually took center stage during his final year at university. He completed his first novel 18 months after graduation and encouraged attendees to pursue writing with resilience and focus.
Also featured was Zaynab, a civil servant who discovered her passion for writing during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since then, she’s remained committed to the craft, proving that creative awakenings can happen at any stage of life.
The event wrapped up with captivating poetry performances and a workshop-style introduction to poetic techniques, leaving participants inspired and equipped with practical tools to kick-start their own storytelling journeys.