Welcome to the Vivian Ihaza Memorial Project, a special initiative under SEVHAGE dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Vivian Ihaza, who was a compassionate individual, a seasoned professional, and an advocate for knowledge-sharing and the arts. This project, starting with the Vivian Ihaza [SEVHAGE] Teen Poetry Prize is an initiative inaugurated by an anonymous bosom friend of hers.

About Vivian Ihaza

Vivian Ihaza was a highly accomplished Marketing and Communications professional with over 17 years of experience. She built an impressive career in broadcasting, sales, advertising, and marketing management, holding senior positions at multiple blue-chip companies across various industries. Her journey in the corporate world culminated in her role as a senior business manager, where she applied her wealth of expertise in managing large-scale operations.

Beyond her professional success, Vivian was deeply passionate about sharing knowledge and empowering others. She dedicated much of her time to consulting and capacity building, helping individuals and organisations grow. A committed advocate for the arts, Vivian was known for her philanthropy and deep compassion. She loved learning, evolving, and encouraging others to do the same, making her a beloved figure among all who knew her.

The Vivian Ihaza [SEVHAGE] Teen Poetry Prize

As part of the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes, this memorial poetry prize seeks to foster creativity, cultural appreciation, and self-expression among the next generation of poets with a focus on Nigerian teenagers (ages 12-17) living in Nigeria in its inaugural edition (2024)

Key Dates and Timelines

• Submission Window: October 1st – November 30th, 2024
• Winners Announcement: By February 2025
• All winners will be contacted via email by February 2025, with an awards ceremony or virtual event to follow.

Submission Guidelines
To ensure fair participation and a wide reach, all entries must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Eligibility: The competition is open to Nigerian writers aged 12 to 17.
• Submission Format: Attach a poem as an MS Word Document without any name or identification of the author, and send to sevhageprizes@gmail.com with the subject VIT POETRY 2024. In the body of the email, write your name, age, address, school (where applicable), and contact number.
• Word Limit: Each poem should not exceed 50 lines.
• Entry Limit: Each student is allowed to submit only one poem.
• Deadline: All submissions must be sent in by November 20th, 2024.

PRIZE STRUCTURE

• First Prize: ₦220,000 and a digital certificate.
• Second Prize: ₦30,000 and a digital certificate.
• Third Prize: ₦20,000 and a digital certificate.
• Longlist: The top ten entries will receive digital certificates.

In addition, the top 15 poems will be compiled into a digital chapbook titled Vivian Ihaza’s Verse 2024, which will be published in 2025.