The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) on Tuesday joined other eminent writers across the country to mourn the death of Chief Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu (1953-2017), the author of “Ifeanyi and Obi” and “Triumph of Destiny ”.
The President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Mr. Wole Adedoyin described Chief Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu as “a principled, dogged, and unrelenting writer, fully committed to ANA cause and the development of children literature in Nigeria.
Chief Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu hailed from Amaigbo in Imo state. Married to Mr Olusoji Otuyelu and had four children. Her areas of interest include folktales and history. A Senior fellow at Ebedi Writers Residency founded by Dr. Wale Okediran.
A nurse by profession, Chief Onwu-Otuyelu got her nursing professional qualifications from University Teaching Hospital Ibadan and Maternity Hospital Lagos. She was an ex-soldier that worked with the Armed Forces Medical Service during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war. Also one of the early female voices to take the genre of Children’s literature very seriously. Ifeanyi and Obi won the Children’s literature award in 1988. She also featured in famous films like Kongi’s Harvest (by Wole Soyinka), Bisi Daughter of the River, T.V Star featured in Village Headmaster, Masquerade, Igbo Plays on IBC TV& Radio
Since her debut creative works in the early 80s, Chief Onwu-Otuyelu branched off into other research areas like history and sociology. After the closure of her clinic and maternity Centre, she was fully active in Imo state politics.
Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu, a former Director at the Imo State council for Arts and culture and one of the founding members of the Association of Nigerian Authors. Chief Ada had once served as the National Auditor of the Association and won various literary awards through her outstanding works written for children.
According to him “I am convinced that her death at this point in ANA’s history will be missed by all. This is because her contributions not only to the development of children literature in the country but to the advancement of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) which is currently the leading and largest writers guild in Nigeria and Africa. Her type is rare, her personal sacrifices and selfless services to ANA and children literature in Nigeria uncommon.
“She deserves everything that ANA can do to give her a befitting honour to immortalize her name as one of the founding members of ANA,’’ Wole added.
Her other literary works include: Ada Marries a Palm Tree, Our Grannies Tales, Adobi, Amaigbo Kwenu: History of my town, Catastrophe, One Bad Turn and Good Morning Mr Kolanut (2009).
