The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), working in Nigeria with the Youth Orientation for Development (YOD), says it is striving to plant the magic of poetry in Rivers State.
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. YOD is a non-profit organization accredited by UNESCO to press home the ideals and objectives of the UNESCO in Nigeria.
The UNESCO NGO says it has been working in the past five years to plant the ‘magic of poetry’ in the oil-rich state, saying most themes each year is to help preach peace in a troubled world. Rivers State is currently going through political upheavals leading to a state of emergency and suspension of a sitting governor.
The UNESCO team has begun its 2025 poetry tasks with the flag-off of a poetry competition in primary and secondary schools in Rivers State.
Emmanuel Ejiogu, president of the UNESCO-YOD, said in Port Harcourt on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the World Poetry Day celebration, that the gathering is to celebrate the beauty, power, and magic of poetry. “World Poetry Day is a global celebration of the art form that has captured the hearts and imaginations of people across cultures, languages, and generations.
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“As we commemorate this special day with a media conference to flag off our annual Poetry Competition in Rivers State, we also honor the poets, past and present, who have used their words to inspire, to heal, to challenge, and to uplift. We celebrate the diversity of poetry, its many forms, styles, and voices.”
He said poetry has the power to connect us, to bridge gaps, and to foster empathy. “It has the power to give voice to the voiceless, to speak truth to power, and to challenge social injustices.
“As we celebrate World Poetry Day, we also acknowledge the importance of poetry in our lives. Poetry helps us to make sense of the world around us, to process our emotions, a and to find meaning in our experiences.
“To the young poets among us, I urge you to continue exploring the world of poetry. Read widely, write often, and share your words with others. Your voices matter, and your poetry has the power to inspire and to transform.
“As we celebrate World Poetry Day with the theme; “Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion”, we highlight the transformative role of poetry in promoting peace, creativity, and inclusion.”
He said poetry connects people across borders, fostering mutual understanding and respect. let us also remember the role that poetry can play in promoting social change, justice, and equality. Let us use our words to speak out against injustice to promote understanding, and to foster peace.”
He said the endeavour in Rivers State with the annual competition is to encourages creative expression, develops writing skills, boost confidence, etc. He also talked about enhancing emotional intelligence because writing poetry could help students develop their emotional intelligence as they explore and express their emotions in a healthy and constructive way.
He urged the students to use words to brighten someone’s day, to inspire, to uplift, and to promote a more just and equitable world.
The 2025 event was held at Royal Oxbridge International School on Abacha Road in New GRA in the Garden City.
Welcoming the guests, Omolola Otebolaku, the proprietress, expressed deep appreciation of the school for what she called the invaluable contributions of UNESCO-YOD in promoting peace, education, and cultural understanding worldwide. “Your organization’s tireless efforts to empower youth and foster global citizenship align with our school’s mission and values.”
She mentioned what makes Royal Oxbridge International School unique in promoting poetry at eary age, saying; “We share your passion for education as a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for transforming lives and communities.
“Today, we gather to celebrate the beauty, power, and universality of poetry. UNESCO World Poetry Day is a testament to the enduring impact of this ancient art form on human culture and society.
“Poetry has the unique ability to capture the essence of the human experience, to express the deepest emotions, and to inspire us to strive for a better world. Through poetry, we can bridge cultural divides, foster empathy, and promote understanding.”
She said the school takes the teaching of poetry serious in Literature and would soon organize some internal competitions in poetry to bring out the magic as UNESCO does. “As we celebrate this special day, let us pay tribute to the poets who have shaped our world with their words. From the classics to contemporary voices, poetry has been a source of solace, inspiration, and guidance. Let us also recognize the critical role that poetry plays in preserving our cultural heritage, promoting linguistic diversity, and empowering marginalized voices.”
Speaking, the programme director of YOD, Momoh Uriel, unveiled the poetry contest in Rivers State in 2025, saying the topmost winners in various categories would go home with more than N150,000. He gave the theme thus: “Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion.” He said the competition is devoid of plagiarism and copying because of many strategies built into it.
In his remarks, Greatman Badom, the Rivers State coordinator of UNESCO-YOD, showed the hard work in deepening the poetry penetration in the state. He said UNESCO YOD was propagating UNESCO ideals in Nigeria and has been doing so in Rivers State since 2021.
