Sovereign Trust Insurance promotes Fagunwa’s literal works

 

Chuks Udo Okonta`

Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc said it has thrown weight behind the preservation of the works of the Late Daniel Fagunwa popularly referred to in the literary world as D.O. Fagunwa, by underwriting the publication of the proceedings of the conference in book form.

 A statement by the underwriting firm said the support reaffirms its commitment to the development and growth of Arts in the country, adding that Literary Scholars home and abroad will be converging in the Sunshine State of Akure from August 8-10, to celebrate the Literary Icon, 50 years after his demise. It noted that the 1986 Nobel Laureate Winner for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka will be on ground to give the keynote address at the 3-day Conference.

Head Corporate Communications and Brand Management STIS, Segun Bankole, said the place of preserving literary excellence in the sustenance of any culture’s origin cannot be overemphasised and as such, it must be given the desired support for the sake of posterity.

He added that inspirational writing has been identified as one of the key elements that can facilitate culture growth, hence, the reason for supporting the Book Publication of the proceedings of the colloquium on Fagunwa’s works.

Its Managing Director Wale Onaolapo, said: “The preservation of culture is of great essence and ensuring the continued availability of Fagunwa’s works will be a means to promoting literary culture and re-orientating generation yet unborn to come to terms with the values we hold dear as a people.”

 He further mentioned that the underlying themes of Fagunwa’s works promote such virtues as Perseverance, team spirit, selflessness, vision, empathy and time management which are synonymous with the company’s Brand Posture.

Born in 1903 in Oke-Igbo, Ondo State, D.O. Fagunwa pioneered the Yoruba Language novel. His works characteristically take the form of loosely constructed picaresque fairy tales containing many folklore elements. His imagery, humour, wordplay and rhetoric reveal an extensive knowledge of classical Yoruba literature. Every event points to a moral, and this moral tone is reinforced by his use of both secular and religious concepts as well as invented proverbs. Many of his works have been translated by Professor Wole Soyinka.

The Spokesperson of The Fagunwa Study Group and Member of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Tejumola Olaniyan expressed profound gratitude to the underwriting firm and other collaborating organizations for their immense support in keeping the heritage of literary culture alive and most especially, for believing in the Fagunwa Study Group’s initiative at preserving the works of the great Writer.

Sovereign Trust Insurance as one of the Sponsors of the Conference in partnership with the Fagunwa Study Group will be underwriting the publication of the proceedings of the conference in form of a Book. The major objective of the conference amongst others is to regenerate the literary culture that seems to be on the decline in recent times especially with the new generation.  

It will be recalled that STI, recently partnered with Playhouse Initiative on the production of ‘KAKADU the Musical’ and will continue to support laudable causes to enhance the advancement of our dear country while delivering insurance and financial services of global standards.