Kwara Campus Poetry Championship
“Poetry as a Catalyst for Gender Relations, Social Responsibility and Shared Nation Building”
The maiden edition of the Kwara Campus Poetry Championship (KCPC) 2026 will hold in October, with the Kwara State Government backing the literary initiative aimed at discovering and nurturing young poetic talents across tertiary institutions in the state.
The championship is conveyed by Ilorin Creative and Cultural Foundation in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kwara Chapter, and is designed to promote literary excellence, creativity, social responsibility and youth development through poetry.
Themed "Poetry as a Catalyst for Gender Relations, Social Responsibility and Shared Nation Building," the championship will provide participating students with opportunities for mentorship, creative development, networking and competition for trophies, certificates, cash prizes and other awards.
As part of the programme, a capacity-building workshop will hold on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, G.R.A., Ilorin, while the main championship is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October 2026.
The workshop will bring together poets, writers, students, academics, artists, cultural practitioners and other lovers of literature for conversations, mentorship and creative exchange.
The organisers are calling on tertiary institutions across Kwara to participate and nominate students for the championship, while creative and literary enthusiasts are also invited to register for the workshop. Attendance is strictly by invitation, with limited seats available.
Convener of KCPC 2026, Dr Mohammed El-Nasir Al-Amin, said the initiative is aimed at building a sustainable platform for young writers and poets while using poetry to promote responsible citizenship, social consciousness and shared nation building.
With the backing of the Kwara State Government and the involvement of leading literary stakeholders, the championship is expected to provide a significant platform for emerging poetic voices in the state to showcase their talents and connect with a wider creative community.
Capacity-Building Workshop: Creative Writing, Performance Poetry and Spoken Word
Ilorin Innovation Hub, G.R.A., Ilorin
Grand Championship and Public Literary Event
Ilorin Innovation Hub, G.R.A., Ilorin
Professor Remi-Oyelade Raji
Keynote Speaker
Department of English, University of Ibadan, Mogaji Adegboro of Ibadanland
Professor Niyi Osundare NNOM
Special Guest Speaker
Distinguished Professor of English, University of New Orleans, United States of America
Professor Abdulrasheed Na'Allah
Special Guest Speaker
Renowned Poet, Playwright and Scholar of African Oral Literature, Former VC. University of Abuja, and Kwara State University, Malete
Professor Razinat Talatu Mohammed
Special Guest Speaker
University of Abuja, Nigeria
Professor Abdulrasheed Adeoye
Panelist
Department of Performing Arts and Film Studies, University of Ilorin
Professor Saeedat B. Aliyu
Panelist
Professor of Environmental and Gender Studies, Department of English, Kwara State University
Professor Aisha A. Gobir
Panelist
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
Professor Nduka Otiono, FANA.
Panelist
Director & Full Professor, Institute of African Studies, Principal Investigator, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Temi Kolawole
Panelist
Managing Director, Ilorin Innovation Hub
Dr. Eric Covey
Panelist
Grand Valley State University, Michigan, United States
Aremo Gemini
Panelist
Spoken Word Artist, Storyteller and Performance Poet
Hon. Bolanle Olukoju
Panelist
Honorable Commissioner for Communications, Kwara State, Nigeria
Dr. Olufunke Mercy Shittu
Panelist
Acting Head of Service, Kwara State, Nigeria