Students of the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, have been presented with a unique opportunity to showcase their literary talent following the official launch of the Dimeji Sodeke Literary Contest 1.0.
Organised by The Academia, the competition seeks to inspire creative expression among students through poetry while encouraging reflection on resilience, hope, and the future amid challenging circumstances.
The contest is themed “Dreams in Difficult Times: Hope, Resilience, and the Future We Dare to Imagine,” inviting participants to explore how individuals and communities sustain hope and pursue their aspirations despite hardship and uncertainty.
According to the organisers, the competition is open to all registered FCE Abeokuta students across CUDEP, LASU, NCE, and Degree programmes.
To reward outstanding entries, the organisers have announced attractive prizes for winners. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of ₦120,000, a publishing deal valued at ₦500,000, and a Certificate of Excellence.
The first runner-up will earn ₦70,000, a ₦350,000 publishing deal, and a Certificate of Merit, while the second runner-up will receive ₦50,000, a ₦250,000 publishing deal, and a Certificate of Merit.
The submission window runs from June 16 to July 14, 2026.
Participants are required to submit one original and unpublished poem ranging between 20 and 60 lines. Entries must be typed in Times New Roman font, size 12, with single-line spacing, and submitted in either PDF or Microsoft Word format.
Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected] with the subject line: “Dimeji Sodeke Literary Contest – Poetry – [Full Name].”
Organisers noted that the initiative is designed not only to celebrate literary creativity but also to provide emerging writers with opportunities for recognition, publication, and professional development.
Interested participants can obtain further information by contacting Joseph on +2347016340238 or Adetutu on +2349038593045.
The contest is expected to attract entries from aspiring poets across the institution as students compete for the coveted prizes and publishing opportunities on offer.
