The remains of the late poet and publisher, Austyn Njoku, will be interred on Thursday, August 28 at Luke Njoku Onyeoziri’s Compound, Ogwu Okwu Village, Mbaise, Imo State.
A statement from Femi Onileagbon, chair, Lagos State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) disclosed that the internment will be preceded by a wake at the same venue on Wednesday.
Onileagbon said that ANA Lagos will hold a day of honour and tributes for the deceased on Saturday, September 13 at the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos.
The occasion, he added, will feature the launch of a foundation which will serve three purposes.
“It will accept on behalf of Austyn Njoku’s family, all donations from members who wish to show their support to his widow and children and remit to the family. It will collate all Austyn Njoku’s unpublished works and ensure they are published, marketed and the proceeds given to Austyn’s family.
“The Foundation shall have the mandate to monitor the welfare of all authors in Lagos and take the lead in matters relating to their well being. Such matters include but are not limited to, copyrights, human rights, health, shelter, etc.
“The Foundation shall revisit cases of deceased members of the Branch such as Mr. Adeshina Olusanya, Ebereonwu, Adolphus Amasiatu and others to find out how the families are faring and the possibilities of bringing to life works written but unpublished by such members. The goal will be as above; publish, market and remit proceeds to the family,” he said.
Onileagbon also disclosed that there will be further activities in honour of Njoku in October during the October 3-5 ANA Lagos State convention and in November during the national convention.
Njoku, a former national treasurer of ANA died on Friday, August 8, 2014. He was the founder of Jemmie Books and author of the poetry collections, ‘I Have Been a Crew’ and ‘Night in Lagos.’
