A legacy of light: From Knowledge Platform to Imodoye Writers Enclave
By Usman Akanbi
MY late father possessed an abiding urge to enrich society, particularly after his retirement from formal employment. He first set his hand to the Bello Akanbi Oniyo Foundation upon retiring from the Nigerian Court of Appeal, yet it scarcely took wing before he was appointed pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Upon relinquishing the chairmanship, he prevailed upon me to devise another platform for community engagement, and in time it metamorphosed into the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation in 2006.
At one juncture I drifted away, until the notion of a Knowledge Platform emerged – it arose from funds left untouched from donations tendered by persons of goodwill toward the treatment of my late mother. The Knowledge Platform Netherlands co-sponsored my sojourn to the African Studies Centre, Leiden, in 2014. Founded upon my account of that journey, my father therefore resolved to name the new building ‘Knowledge Platform’. That edifice, conceived to be the crucible for entrepreneurial training, I had earlier urged him to establish, eventually turned out to be a crucible for knowledge-based endeavours. He further pressed me to assist with the running of the platform and to withdraw from the political arena, which I then flirted with – I had been invited by Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, through a friend, Segun Olawoyin, to consult for the PDP in 2014. Not long thereafter, I encouraged my father to invest in a library project, which we later extended into a resource centre to house an innovation hub – Malhub by 2017.
Ironically, at a point in time, my father counselled that I ought to conceive a personal project of my own, but I evinced little inclination; I undertook what I did for him merely to gladden his heart – ‘idunu l’onje agba’ – for keeping the elder content was the philosophy that guided my conduct with him. Moreover, upon his sickbed, as he gazed directly into my eyes whilst enduring acute pain, he enjoined us to uphold what he had asked of us – I took that to signify his cherished project. Thus, upon his passing I endeavoured my utmost, only to discover that ‘what belongs to all belongs to none – what belongs to none belongs to all’. I chose to withdraw quietly, to devote myself to whatever God ordained for me elsewhere, though I little suspected what I should chance upon.
Drawing inspiration from D.O. Fagunwa’s Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀ (The Forest of a Thousand Demons), I am reminded of the manifold trials individuals must endure in life. Àkàrà Oògùn, a dauntless hunter, undertakes a perilous quest through the Forest of a Thousand Demons, encountering supernatural beings – spirits, demons, and monsters such as Agbako. Remarkably, Àkàrà Oògùn was charged with raising a house overnight, and his mother, Yemoja, a figure of great consequence in Yoruba mythology, appeared as a spectre, summoning ghoulish figures to assist the already beleaguered hunter in fulfilling the task. This suggests that extraordinary circumstances at times demand extraordinary succour, especially when confronted with insidious machinations.
Heeding the lesson this fable imparts, I resolved to borrow the name of one of its characters, ‘Imodoye’ for a writers’ enclave that came to fruition, and following a proposal by a company of writers under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Authors who called upon me in 2021, I agreed to host within it, a Writers Residency too – I had invited the writers to commission the Imodoye Writers Enclave, intended as a confluence for writers of kindred spirit within the Ilorin metropolis, yet I was forthwith persuaded to accommodate a residency as well, and I acquiesced to their entreaty. Above all, I must acknowledge my immediate past president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Mr. Camillus Ukah , and a former national officer of the association, Mal. Umar Yogiza Jr. , who became my chief residency consultant, and of course Dr. Olawale Okediran , founder of Ebedi Residency, who furnished me with the rudiments of what a residency entails. I dedicated the entire writers’ enclave to my late mother, who, in her final moments, prayed for me thus: “Ladipo, people may never understand that, notwithstanding your father’s standing in society, we do not follow you to solicit favours beyond our means. But be assured, whatever you set your hand to shall prosper – albarika a wo” – and so it has been for me. Alhamdulillah.
Imodoye Writers Residency – Ìmọ̀dọyẹ, a Yoruba word, quite literally signifies that knowledge culminates in understanding. “Ile-Iwe” forms part of the name “Imodoye Writers Enclave (ILE IWE)” cited in connection with the first writers’ residency programme in the Northern parts of Nigeria. “Ile” is a Yoruba word signifying “house”, and “Iwe” is a Yoruba word denoting “book” or “learning”. Hence, “Ile-Iwe” renders roughly as “House of Books” or “House of Learning”. In this context, it denotes a literary sanctuary wherein writers may devote themselves wholly to their craft.
Dr. Usman Akanbi
Imodoye Writers Residency was conceived to nurture and sustain emerging writers in Nigeria. Situated in Ilorin, Kwara State, it affords a congenial environment wherein writers may concentrate upon their craft, engage with peers, and learn from seasoned practitioners. The residency offers:
Key Features: Workspace: A serene and tranquil setting that cultivates creativity and industry; Stipend: A stipend for four weeks to sustain writers throughout their residency; Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from accomplished writers and industry authorities; Community: A forum for connection with fellow writers and the cultivation of a peer network
Application Process: When the call is issued, applications are submitted annually by email, accompanied by a cover letter; Applicants are expected to furnish two letters of reference from respectable Nigerians, preferably distinguished creative writers; Include a brief biographical note and samples of current creative work
Goals: To provide a supportive milieu for writers to refine their craft; To advance literary excellence and innovation; To foster a community of writers and devotees of literature
I established the Writers Enclave to share my devotion to writing and to enrich the literary community. In essence, the residency aims to empower writers to produce work of the highest calibre, and its alumni have attained notable literary distinction. With its singular union of creative liberty and structured guidance, indeed, despite its humble beginnings, Imodoye Writers Residency has become an invaluable resource for emerging writers in Nigeria. The residency has, to date, accommodated upwards of thirty fellows since its inception in 2022. Presently, the seventh cohort, 2026, is to be unveiled on 13 June 2026. To God be the glory. Alhamdulillah.
* Dr. Akanbi, founder of Imodoye Writers Enclave, is the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
