As I look back on my application letter written in January, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I had only two clear goals when I applied: to complete The Diary of the MRS and The Smart Idol Guide.
Those were the projects that pushed me to take the leap. Although I also had several short stories and a quiet desire to improve my fiction-writing skills, I wasn’t quite sure what lay ahead.
When I arrived at Ebedi, fear tugged at my heart. But today, in hindsight, I realise how much I have accomplished.
One of the most profound moments of my stay here was reconnecting with my first love—poetry. It had been over 25 years since I last wrote a poem. Life happened, and I abandoned that part of me.
But at Ebedi, that spark reignited. I now have several anthologies under development, including Ebedi Whispers, with poems on gender equality, domestic violence, women and children’s rights, and other critical human rights themes.
I also completed a number of short stories, including “Polaroid of Ebedi” and “Why They Died” which explores how parents unknowingly stifle the intuition and creativity of their children—and how they can reverse it.
Seeing a private library for the first time in Iseyin also left a lasting impression on me. I was deeply inspired. That one individual could establish something so impactful for society showed me what vision and selflessness can truly look like. It reminded me that possibilities exist if we are willing to dream and build.
Ebedi didn’t just help me write books; it helped me plan the future. I developed new courses to teach during the summer holiday. I have several new book ideas. In fact, ideas flow so freely here that Ebedi feels like a river that never runs dry. Every quiet moment birthed new concepts, flashes of vision, and a sense of purpose.
I also submitted two poems for competitions—one of them “Ebedi Whispers”, and another about a woman who could bear children but not take custody of them. These works were deeply personal, and it means so much that I had the space to write and share them.
Ebedi has been a win for me. When someone said in the WhatsApp group during our welcome session that “You’ll definitely come back again,” I laughed.
But now I understand why. This is not just a residency; it is a creative sanctuary. Yes, I will return—again and again.
I want to deeply appreciate Dr. Wale Okediran for this opportunity. Your vision has changed lives—mine included. Thank you for creating this space for writers to dream, write, and grow.
God bless you, Sir, with real peace.
