President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, felicitated with a former Lawmaker, Dr. Wale Okediran on the gold medal award at the V Eurasian Literary Festival of Festivals, recently held at Cairo in Egypt.
The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina commended the writer, physician and current Secretary General of the PAN-African Writers Association (PAWA) for this accomplishment, which is a celebration of Nigerian literature and values at the international stage.
The statement obtained by Oyo News added that President Buhari affirmed that the outstanding literary productivity Award for Okediran is culmination of a lifetime devoted to writing, noting that it will inspire many young writers in the country to literary excellence, knowing that Nigeria is blessed with some of the best brains in the world.
Wishing the former lawmaker the best in his career, the President said he trusts that there are more laurels and honour for Dr Okediran who has excelled in literature, politics and medicine.
Dr. Okediran holds a BSc (Hons), MB, ChB, from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.
He served as a Member of the Federal House of representatives from 2003 to 2007, contributing to advocacy, regional dialogue and policy development.
Okediran has published 14 novels, many of which are on the reading lists of a number of Nigerian universities.
Dr. Okediran also established in 2010, together with a few friends, the first Writers Residency in Nigeria; the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State.
He is a Fellow of the General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and the Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, and a Member of the Association of Nigerian Authors.
Dr. Okediran is currently the Deputy Secretary-General for the Union of Writers from Africa, Asia and Latin America.