The memorial Day of the Great Literary and creative works of late Professor Sam Ukala Foundation has been held with different drama presentations and dances.
The ceremony which took place at the Maryam Babangida Leisure Park and Film Village,Anwai Asaba,was attended by friends and well-wishers from far and near.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of Professor Sam Ukala Foundation,who is also the first son , Honourable Olise Sam Ukala, said it was a great day remembering the great work of their father,Professor Sam Ukala.
Honourable Ukala, appreciated those who attended the occasion and commended contributors to the success of the programme.
The Chairman said the Sam Ukala Foundation have impacted positively on both Youths and elderly through Literary essay competitions, drama presentations and donation of books to institutes.
He explained that yearly drama presentations among schools in collaboration with Delta State Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Education among others based on published short stories of great Literary icon was part of achievements worthy of commendation.
"This historic andmark achievement was communicated by UNESCO to the Mayor of Asaba (Oshimili South Local Government Chairman) via a letter dated 6th November 2023, that the city of Asaba has been approved as a Creative City among the 55 new UNESCO creative cities, based on the fact that Asaba plays host to the Legendary Literary Works and Folklore of late Professor Emeritus Sam Ukala, diverse music and comedy entertainments, numerous film practitioners as well as Arts and Crafts"
"Another landmark achievement of the foundation is the institution and successful organization of the maiden edition of Professor Chinedum Samuel Ukala Literary Essay Competition, also known as the Sam Ukala Prize for Literature in the secondary school category, among Secondary
Schools in Delta State.This academic feat was carried out in collaboration with the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. This is to complement government efforts toward rejuvenating the old reading and writing culture which is paramount for improving standards in the education sector and prerequisite for human capital development, which is a core mandate of this present administration, one we all need to support"
"The Professor Chinedum Samuel Ukala Literary Essay Competition took place from 23rd – 30th November, 2022 with winners and participating schools and students going home with various cash prizes ranging from N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) for the first place winner of the competition, N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) for second place winner and N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) for third place winner"
"In furtherance of our bid to fulfill another core mandate of the foundation, we have also effectively donated over three thousand (3,000) copies of reprinted books authored by the Late Professor to the Delta State Library Board, Delta State University, various secondary schools as well as individuals. The titles of books donated include the Placenta of Death, two Plays, the African Drama and Theatre, the Last Heroes, Skeletons a Collection of Stories and others".
"We have also commenced a yearly drama competition among schools in Delta State in collaboration with the Delta State Directorate of Culture and Tourism based on the published short stories of the great literary icon where winners will enter into mentorship programme with the foundation and exposed to the global theatre of the entertainment industry, somewhat similar to Broadway Theatre found in Hollywood. We are also hopeful that his authored books will be inculcated into the Academic curriculum of Secondary and Tertiary institution in Nigeria and beyond"
Honourable, Olise Sam Ukala appreciated the past and present leadership of Delta State for their encouragement and contributions to the success stories.
He revealed that professor Sam Ukala was born in 18th April,1948,at Mbiri in Ika North East Local Government of Delta State and before his death he had over one hundred scholarly, Literary and creative publications credited to his name saying that presavation matters to them greatly.
