By Prisca Sam-Duru

Former Bursar of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof May Ifeoma Nwoye, last week, emerged one of the winners at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Her novel, Oil Cemetery, won her the most coveted ANA/Chevron Prose Prize on Environment which is worth $2,000. The prize, which has the highest prize money and sponsored by Chevron, is used to reward works that address themes on environment.

The laureate, Prof Nwoye is one of the progressive female creative writers in the country whose works have won and received diverse nominations – in 2004, she was one of the nominees for the NLNG prize for Literature.

Nwoye’s winning entry highlights how people in the Niger Delta region cope with the environmental degradation that has complemented the unearthing of oil wealth in their communities.

Published in 2013 by Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency, Houston Texas, United States, the story is woven around a young girl, Rita and her family. Interestingly, it is the young girl Rita who leads a subtle revolution that would later shock her entire community.

Winning the prize, she said, is a major boost in her writing career. “I feel good that my work was appreciated. As you know, I feel very concerned about the condition of the voiceless people, their feelings and expectations. Human beings are the raw materials with which and about whom I write. so by winning this award,I feel as if I am being listened to. For all these, I thank God for his kindness to me.”

Beyond being an academic and administrator, Prof Nwoye is an advocate that is passionate about children, women, environment and family values. She has become a proactive influence in the crusade for women economic emancipation and empowerment. She is the President of Intervention Council for Women in Africa, a non-profit organisation, and a member of Board of Trustee of the Centre for Population and Environmental Development (CPED).

Her passion is seen in her literary works that span two decades. Since her first novel, Endless Search (1994), Prof Nwoye has brought forth an impressive collection of 11 novels and short stories.

That includes Tides Of Life (a collection of short stories), 1995; MIRAGE in Breaking the Silence (1996); Edible Pet (1995); Blind Expectations (a collection of Stories, 1997); Death By Installments, 1999; A Child Of Destiny, 2000; Fetters And Choices (2003); Ancient Tales From Africa (The Broken Promise), 2009 and Broken Melodies (an international version of Fetters and Choices, 2014).