Join the Redefiners Writing Challenge!

 Introduction

Are you ready to unleash your creativity and share your unique perspective with the world? Stories have the magical ability to transport us to new worlds, help us understand different cultures, and inspire us to dream big. Writing is a powerful way for children to express their ideas, sharpen their communication skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. It also helps build confidence and a sense of identity, preparing you to become the leaders of tomorrow!

The Redefiners Writing Challenge (RWC), organised by Redefiners Hub in partnership with Boolz-I Writing Services, Chowilson and Pulchra Publishing, is an opportunity for young writers. This special contest is designed to encourage young Nigerians to share their stories, develop their writing talents, and tackle important issues in today's world.

What We Need:

• Love for Reading and Writing: We want to see young people fall in love with the magic of words!
• Creative Thinking: Show us your ideas for a better future by thinking outside the box.
• Your Unique Perspective: Tell a story that reflects your experiences and how you see the world.
• Bring African Stories to a Global Audience: Let your story showcase the richness of African culture and perspectives.

Contest Details:

• Theme: Show Me the Money! (The story should be based on the current exchange rate in Nigeria)
• Submission: Write a Flash Fiction story (minimum - 500 words, maximum - 900 words) that reflects the theme. Give your story a title and submit it in PDF format. 
• The Writer's name should not be included on the story page.
• Guidelines: Writers are to abide by the specifications of submission and use the judging criteria as a guide.

Judging Criteria:

Your story will be judged based on:

• Plot: Is your story engaging and well-structured?
• Grammar: Is your writing clear and free of errors?
• Characterization: Are your characters well-developed and believable?
• Theme Interpretation: How well did you explore the theme?
• Originality: Is your story fresh and unique? Note: AI generated stories will be disqualified.
• Formatting and Length: Did you follow the guidelines?

Who Can Enter?

This contest is open to children of Nigerian heritage, aged 10 to 17, no matter where in the world you live.

Exciting Prizes Await!

• First Prize: N20,000.00
• Second Prize: N10,000.00
• Third Prize: N5,000.00

In addition to cash prizes, the top three winners and the top twenty participants will receive certificates and opportunities for publication or public recognition.

Entry Fee: N500.00.

Key Dates:

• Submission Period: 1st to 21st September, 2024
• Judging Period: After submissions close

Entry Submission Link - https://forms.gle/rhrWf6LDEaSJ2jd39
Payment Link - https://paystack.com/pay/a6m9jhc65j

Are you ready to take on the challenge? Grab your pen, let your imagination soar, and show the world what you have! We can’t wait to read your stories!

A Grateful Heart

                                                       

                                 

A week ago, I was involved in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA). It was a harrowing experience that felt like I was watching a movie in which I was the main character, unable to change the status quo; but through it all I am grateful to God for preserving my life.

Flashing back to the scene with the bleeding driver trying frantically to pull the damaged vehicle off of me or the good Samaritans helping in different ways, I know that there is still a lot of empathy on the planet and that we need each other to make the world, our world, a better place and achieve our individual goals. So, the next time you drive by an accident scene or are about to ignore someone else's challenge which you can do something about, remember me! I am here today because of God and the people that helped me.

The pain was progressive, so initially I felt numb, till I began to feel it. For the first time in my life, I was given opioid analgesics and as the pain subsided, reaction to the medication became the focus and I had to be managed for that as well. I was drowsy while they moved me from the first to the second hospital, but I could pray and talk with my family members about my kids whom I couldn't pick from school myself. I still wanted to pass by their school even if I was lying drowsy in a vehicle, but they thought better and split themselves. One group took me straight to the other hospital while the other group picked my kids up. There are times in life you will feel helpless, incapable of doing the things you have planned to. When you can, do all that is in your power, but when you can't, it is okay to lean on someone else's shoulder. Don't stay silent or give up at any point, whether you are praying, declaring what you want to see or screaming 'HELP' like I did when I realized I was stuck under a vehicle, speak! It will give you hope and bring you the assistance you need.

There were very nice and jovial medical personnel as well as mean and uncaring ones. I was surrounded by people with different medical cases and in one hospital I was appalled by certain forms of treatment, but I also saw tenacity and love. There were people in serious conditions that broke my heart, the sight of a critically ill woman whose husband would not leave her side thrilled me a great deal. He would hold her head in his laps and look straight in her eyes, lifting her up or putting her down when the medical personnel needed him to. Painfully, a patient died adjacent to my bed and I learnt the accident was similar to mine. You can imagine how I felt, because there were no screens. I saw her alive, when they tried to resuscitate her and also her corpse when she passed on.

I was eager to be back home with my kids and was excited when my x-rays were reviewed and the doctor said 'no fractures', just a sprain. I woke up at home the next day, glad to be back, and that was when I consciously felt severe pain. My body seemed heavy, moving my limbs was a huge task, I ached all over. I quickly went for the analgesics I was given, as if the pain would disappear immediately. I rested as I was told I should and by the third day, I understood then what the doctor meant by the term 'trauma', in reference to my accident. The black patches on my limbs told me they had been hit, but I didn't see them before, so my gratitude quotient shot up significantly.

I thought I could jump right back to my regular activities, but my body told me to rest some more. So, while I am resting so my body can heal, I am looking ahead to when I will resume regular activities. To God, I am grateful for sparing my life and surrounding me with people that can help me through this phase.

To those caring for their friends and relatives at home or in hospitals, to those who sleep in chairs or on corridors, waiting to see their loved ones through, to those moving their family members and friends from place to place for better care, kudos! To those wondering what tomorrow holds, waiting for a miracle and the end of their pain, please don't give up. Sometimes, things turn around later than expected; sometimes the outcomes are not exactly what we want. Whatever the case, keep hope alive and maintain a heart of gratitude. You are not alone!

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Copyright (C) 2021 Omonefe O. Eruotor  

Priorities

Two years ago, I bought a phone I loved. It took lovely pictures and I did a great deal of work on it, but the disc space was small and it filled up quickly. Issues began when the charger got stolen. Due to my tight schedule, I kept moving the day I would transfer data through some other means forward, as I could not use the charging port, till the phone went off and never came back on. I lost data. Based on professional advice and my observation, I decided that the solution was to get a phone with sufficient space.

I used another phone I didn’t really like but got one I loved in December 2019. Pretty phone with all the space I needed - 32 GB ram and 16 GB memory card, perfect for me. All my platforms were up and I worked comfortably without my laptop, sure it would not fill up quickly. Guess what? It was stolen in the most horrible way and I was heartbroken, I cried like a baby. How could I get back works, proposals, photos from past events and the last road trip with my kids? I traveled a lot between December and March and went without my laptop because I knew my phone would suffice. I lost it all. I got my dream phone with ample space but my problem was not solved. I still lost it all. What a loss!

THE 2020 Redefiners Writing Challenge for Children: Lockdown Edition

The Redefiners Writing Challenge (RWC) is a creative opportunity aimed at encouraging young people to express themselves through writing. RWC will identify, harness and showcase the gift of writing in young Nigerians. This will boost their confidence, help them communicate better and appreciate other stories they read, while instilling in them the desire to do something worthwhile with their words. Children who write discover themselves early, they believe they have something to say; a good foundation for becoming powerful leaders for the future.

This year, it will be implemented in partnership with Chowilson, Pulchra Publishing and The Bookworm Cafe, giving preteens and teens an opportunity to share their views on the lockdown experience. The theme is ‘My Ideal Lockdown Experience’. It will provide them with an opportunity to express themselves while promoting their adherence to WHO’s precautionary measures.

Categories

Preteen Writers: Ages 9-12

Teen Writers: Ages 13-16

Prizes

• First, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes ( N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 respectively).
• The top 20 stories will be included in the 2020 Redefiners Writing Challenge Anthology (Lockdown Edition).
• Twenty finalists will participate in an online writing masterclass/interactive session

Eligibility Criteria

• Authors must be within the specified age groups (above) as at 30th June, 2020.
  Submission of birth certificates is mandatory for this reason.
• Entries must be submitted on or before the deadline – 30th June, 2020. Late
  submissions will not be accepted.
• Participants must be Nigerian citizens
• Only entries submitted in line with the guidelines below will be considered.

Submission Guidelines

● All entries have to be original works of fiction, not previously published, 500 words minimum and 900 words maximum. Authors should ensure their stories interpret the theme correctly.

● Only one entry will be accepted per child

● Entries should be in PDF format, typed and double-spaced with a cover page that has the story title and word count. Entries should be saved with the title, not the author’s name (authors’ names will be filled on registration forms which also have story titles for easy tracking).

● At least one of WHO’s COVID-19 precautionary measures should be used in the story

● To participate, fill in your details here, pay your entry fee of N1,000 here and send attached copies of your story (as requested) and birth certificate to submissions@omonefe.com or redefinersph@gmail.com. Birth certificates should be sent in JPEG or GIF.

Announcement of Winners and Closing Events

The long list, comprising of top 20 authors and their stories, will be published by 31st July. 

An interactive session which includes a writing masterclass, will be held for the top 20 finalists on the 1st of August, 2020.

The top three winners, per category, will be named at the closing ceremony on the 8th of August 2020.

All 20 finalists will get a copy of the anthology after it is published.

Nefe's Blog: International Women's Day Ode

Nefe's Blog: International Women's Day Ode: To every young girl who is unsure of what tomorrow holds, To every mother who feels overwhelmed with the challenges of today, To e...

International Women's Day Ode

To every young girl who is unsure of what tomorrow holds,

To every mother who feels overwhelmed with the challenges of today,

To every single mother who feels different from everyone else,

To every unwed sister who feels her change of status is long overdue,

To every grandma who looks back and hopes her kids make the best of life,

And every man who stands by women, empowering them to succeed;

It is your day, my day, our day.

Celebrate!

Copyright (C) 2019 Omonefe O. Eruotor

#internationalwomen'sday #balanceforbetter

#redefiners

'OVER' TO 'BETTER'

As a football match comes to an end, the players and officials gradually walk out of the pitch which was once abuzz, spectators and fan clubs also gravitate toward the exit because it is all over. The adrenaline rush resolves on its own as the time to bamboozle the crowd is gone. It is at this time that players go over their performances individually or with their teams, then the reality of how well or how terribly they dribbled, played or caught balls comes to light. At this point, nothing can be changed, only learning points can be picked out of the victory or the loss.

MASKS

Today, the word ‘mask’ just popped in my head and I decided to look it over in my mind’s eye. Wikipedia tells us that “a mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment.”

In all the words used above, ‘disguise’ and ‘performance’ got my attention. I am not talking about using a mask for stage performances or to help someone avoid an assailant. I mean the disguise and performance that have to do with locking up who you really are so the world sees someone you feel they want to see, the perfect man that receives accolades even when he cringes inside with imperfection and pain.

LESSONS FROM 'BLACK PANTHER'

It has been awesome watching the tangible impact of the fictitious land of Wakanda on the lives of people worldwide. I have  seen African- Americans and people of other races dress in trendy African outfits, heard a lot of discussion centered around this movie and it's projection of Africa. I hope that these possibilities that have come to the fore will be taken in as a call to action, rather than buried after the Black Panther euphoria by us. A lot has been on my mind and the following are are a few thoughts that I came up with after seeing the movie. I hope they will open your eyes as wide as they did mine.

Ike Nnaebue - "I'm an Incurable Optimist..."

In the ‘New Nollywood’, a modern variant of the Nigerian movie industry, I am amazed at how often social media is flooded with fresh movie alerts. We have been ushered into a divergent dispensation of the cinemas which our parents enjoyed in Nigeria, based on the consistent display of contemporary work. In the midst of all the innovation, there are some movie makers who stand out with the quality and spread of their work, one of such is Ike Nnaebue; a screenwriter, singer/songwriter, producer and director. He is also the CEO of Treasure Wells Academy as well as Passion8 Communications and has produced, directed or written pieces which have received accolades in Nigeria and the diaspora.  His most recent accomplishments with ‘Loving Daniella’ which received three nominations at the Las Vegas

Film Festival and produced the winner of the Best Actress category as well as ‘Dr. Mekam’ which won the Best Screenplay and produced the Best Actor in the Nollywood Travel Film Festival early this year, have heightened our expectations as we await more from this all-rounder and his team before the year wanes. Join me as we take a short trip into the world of Ike Nnaebue with this interview.