By 3:00 PM on Thursday, City Café was already buzzing. Chairs were filled, laughter was in the air, and new faces especially from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) were finding their way into the Benin Writers Society’s family.
The July edition of Poetry Playground, with the theme Tirades on Trust had officially begun. And at the centre of it all, holding the energy together, was Edo State’s foremost compere, Talker.
THE OPENING: SETTING THE TONE
Talker opened the event with a warm ‘meet and greet,’ introducing members present and making sure the new UNIBEN students felt the pulse of the event.
The session was committed into God’s hands with an opening prayer by Miss Gift, a 100-level UNIBEN student.
Then Talker stepped up to set the tone by stating that:
> “Good afternoon family. Today we are here to talk about TRUST. The thing that builds us, and the thing that can break us. Welcome to Poetry Playground: Tirades on Trust.”_
Jokes followed, and just like that, the mood shifted from formal to familial.
The President and Founder of Benin Writers Society, Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., gave the opening remarks. His words were simple but powerful:
> “We are glad to see new faces from UNIBEN here with us today. Thank you for coming. I promise you, you will leave here inspired. This is a home for writers and a place to.pass the baton to the next generation.”
He thanked everyone for honouring the invitation and assured them of an unforgettable experience.
VOICES THAT SPOKE: POETRY AND TRUTH
What followed was poetry raw, honest, and frank. One after the other, members took the mic to make exude a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings , recollected in tranquility.
Planted, Princess Diana – VP BWS, Bernice, Mary, Favour, Vodi, ThankGod, Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., and several others all lent their voices to the theme.
Each poem explored a different side of trust: betrayal, faith, love, and recovery. The energy in the room was electic and enervating, whilst the UNIBEN students matched the vibe bar for bar, clapping, snapping, and shouting “Ehn ehn!”
THE CONVERSATION: CAN LOVE LIVE WITHOUT TRUST?
After a short break, Talker welcomed Gloria Vitalis , the smooth talking compere of KU FM, Benin to the stage for the talk show segment. The question on the table was heavy:
> “Can you love without trust? Can love exist without trust?”
What started as a deep conversation quickly turned into one of the funniest and most honest moments of the day. Members shared personal takes, but the line that broke the room was from a young man who said:
> “I can not trust my mom with my secret because she will use it as a bedtime story for my dad.”
Laughter, nods, and ‘that’s true o’ filled City Café, GRA, Benin, the venue of the event. Gists of the session was insightful, it was funny, and it was real.
MUSIC, MONEY, AND MOMENTS
Poetry continued, and then Vodi the budsing music artiste took the stage. His performance lifted the mood even higher.
Then came the giveaways. Nkechi Edogbo-a Communications Officer of Benin Writers Society, coordinated The Fastest Fingers and prizes were shared among winners. Later in the event, the Vice President of Benin Writers Society, Events and External affairs, Princess Diana Eweka handled a game tagged The Last Man Standing. Another UNIBEN student walked away with a cash price, all sponsored by the Benin Writers Society as part of its commitment to youth engagement.
A NEW CHAPTER: UNIBEN COMMITTEE INAUGURATED
The high point of the day was the official inauguration of the *UNIBEN Campus Coordination Committee*. The President of the Benin Writers Society-Douglas Ogbankwa Esq , presented the new leadership of the UNIBEN Campus Coordination Committee to the house:
Position / Name
Chairperson – Naomi Isidahomen
Vice Chairperson – Eguoba ThankGod
Treasurer – Jessica Ugbo Secretary – Olivia Isemede Publicity Secretary – Odia Mary
Provost – Theophilus Oliver
In his charge, the President told them that:
“This committee is the future of Benin Writers Society (BWS) on campus. Go and tell our stories. Build the next generation of writers.”
Applause, cheers, and jabs filled the room. This was more than an inauguration. It was the passing of the torch to the next generation.
GAMES AND GOODBYES
The Compere- Talker kept the energy up with Charades a light-hearted game that had the whole hall laughing and participating.
As the event drew to a close, Talker gave the final words:
>”Thank you for coming, thank you for trusting us with your stories. Trust may be tested, but words will always heal us. Safe journey home.”
The event ended with group photographs, hugs, and promises to meet again. Attendees described it as “lively, engaging, and inspiring.”
CONCLUSION
Poetry Playground: Tirades on Trust_ was more than an event. It was a safe space. A space where young people came to speak, to listen, to laugh, and to heal.
It reflected the core of the Benin Writers Society’s mandate: “Telling Tales for the Next Generation.”
With the new UNIBEN committee in place and the energy from this edition, the future of Benin Writers Society looks brighter than ever.
By Nkechi Edogbo
*#BWS #PoetryPlayground #TiradesOnTrust #TellingTalesForTheNextGeneration*
