Baikie, Sawa and Edward to thrill Abuja today for AWF

Asmau Baikie, Paul Sawa and Tokunbo Edward will be in the spotlight of the June 22, Guest Writer Session of the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF).The monthly event which is into its seventh year, holds at Nanet Suites, features readings, music and a raffle-draw for book prizes and starts by 4pm.
Kano-born novelist, Asmau Baikie attended Bayero University Staff School, Kano and Federal Government Girls’ College Kazaure, Jigawa State for her Primary and Secondary school education respectively.
Armed with a B.A. in Mass Communications from Bayero University, Kano (1999) and Masters in English Language from Nasarawa State University, Keffi (2012), she as a reporter with Daily Times of Nigeria in Lagos before resuming
a Principal Information Officer in the National Assembly, Abuja. While she still pursues her journalism passion as a Staff Writer in THE MACE, an in-house newspaper of the Nigerian National Assembly.
Two of her four novels, The Father’s Sunbeam, The Father’s Love dwell on Godly relationships with the aim of promoting Godly virtues among the youth and the entire populace.
The other two, Kabira’ and Kabira’s Friends, the sequel to Kabira address female gender issues such as the girl-child education, early marriage in northern Nigeria and its consequences. Consequences such as VVF, divorce, young widowhood and illiteracy form the basis of the books.
Paul Sawa hails from Adamawa State and describes himself as a proud Nigerian. “In order to remove any ambiguity,” he insists, “it must be clearly defined that I am not a Nigerian who is proud, but a member of the human race who is distinctly proud to be Nigerian.” He is an Environmentalist, Landscape Specialist and a self-styled social crusader.
The Managing Director of Abuja-based landscaping outfit, Riskupaean Environment (, Sawa has been described by those closest to him as an illusorily intelligent, independent-minded non-conformist who literally wears his heart on his sleeve.
Passionate about environmental protection, sustenance and responsibility, he is also a firm believer in the dignity of labour, social justice, and positive transformation/change/metamorphosis. He is a firm believer in the possibility of a safer, more stable, more productive and united Nigeria. As he clearly demonstrates every week on the socio-political radio program, “The Podium,” on which he is a regular panelist.
Paul Sawa is a realist; unafraid to say it as he sees it.
The book “Green Musings – A View from the Gazebo” does just that. It began as an essay intended for publishing as a newspaper article over four years ago.
Having noticed the apathy with which Nigerians generally regard landscaping in particular, and the environment in general, Sawa decided to write an article to sensitise readers, not only on the importance of landscaping, but also on the practicability of it in Nigerian society. As he began to write, however, he began to notice striking parallels between landscaping/environmental situations and the Nigerian socio-political structure.
In the words of Toby Ndeokwuelu, “This is a work of deep introspection … the author … is a very keen observer of his surroundings and the human situation. The author is a lover of Nature, Order and Nigeria and is both bothered and almost accepting (but not quite) of the tragedy Nigeria is turning out to be. But he believes it does not have to end in flames, tears and blood. He believes (rather optimistically) that Nigeria can be salvaged like an over grown garden. All that’s needed is just the right will and determination … dedication and focus.”
Guitarist and songwriter, Tokunbo Edward, has become one of the mainstays of the event with his unique style of rendition to fortify the musical interludes.
The Guest Writer Session which started in June 2008 has established a reputation as the most consistent literary event in the country and has featured an enviable list of emerging and established writers.