At SprinNG, we believe that you “Be one to teach one and teach one to be one.”
 
While we have several projects, the SprinNG team is always excited about the SprinNG Writing Fellowship. This year, we received our largest applicant pool of 568 writers interested in the fellowship. The enthusiasm of these applicants and passion for their creative interests is undeniable and one we continue to create opportunities for.
 
We are proud to announce that we are hosting our 5th cohort of 43 writers and 41 mentors, also expanding the opportunity to Ghana. By the end of this year, we would have mentored a total of 143 writers (Nigerian and Ghanaian) in the SprinNG Writing fellowship.

​Gimbiya Galadima is a fifth-year medical student of the University of Benin and a creative writer. When she is not writing, she can be found watching a movie or reading a book. Gimbiya is very passionate about African literature and mental health issues that affect young people. She is the author of an anthology titled T.I.R.E.D

Click below to purchase T.I.R.E.D ​

permit me to say these words
even if my mouth chooses betrayal
and my lips quiver
 
on days when tears fill my eyes
when joy fills my heart
strength is mine to claim
at any time or place

​tough times call for tougher measures: in this case,
the pandemic has decided that social distancing is compulsory
so, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and enemies: remember to practice social distancing
when you see me in Benin, and my Instagram posts read Dubai, practice social distancing
when you see me at a restaurant devouring a plate of fresh nkwobi, please avoid me
if your eyes catch me counting cash aggressively at an ATM, remember that it is a pandemic
when you suddenly remember that you need assistance beyond prayers and hugs, practice social distancing
I apologise for the distance that is between us, but I am not sorry
it’s a pandemic - my ultimate excuse not to be stressed. So, do not stress me.

​it’s 3:47 am, several minutes past bedtime
your eyes remain open after several attempts to keep them closed
closed lids of pots - of freshly boiled long grains white rice
you may have counted a thousand times
the many ugly ceilings boards that are supposed to beautify your house
yet sleep scorns you: it avoids you the way a young girl avoids a poor man
she packs her bags at night, wordlessly and moves into the house of your neighbour
your wall is so thin you can hear the snoring of his family so loudly
jealousy burns in you: you feel tempted to put on your Bluetooth speaker
to generously share your playlist when everyone else is at sleep
your mother raised you better: so, you just stare and wish
that your mind was not so burdened about your account balance
which reads negative and your rent, due next week.