Ifeoma Okoye facts for kids

Ifeoma Mokwugo Okoye is a famous Nigerian writer, born around 1937. Many people say she is one of the most important female writers from Nigeria. She was born in Anambra State, Nigeria.

She got a teaching certificate from St. Monica's College in 1959. Later, she earned a degree in English from the University of Nigeria in 1977. Ifeoma Okoye wrote many books. These include novels for adults and fun short stories for children. Some of her children's books are The Village Boy and Eme Goes to School.

Ifeoma Okoye's Early Life and School

Ifeoma Okoye was born in Anambra State, Nigeria, around 1937. She went to St. Monica's College in Ogbunike. There, she earned a certificate to become a teacher. After that, she taught at St. Monica's College for two years.

From 1963 to 1967, she attended All Saints International School in Enugu. She even ran her own nursery school in Enugu from 1971 to 1974. Later, from 1974 to 1977, Okoye studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She earned her degree in English there. She continued her studies in England from 1986 to 1987. She got another degree in English from Aston University. After her studies, she taught English at Nnamdi Azikiwe University until the year 2000.

Ifeoma Okoye's Achievements

Ifeoma Okoye is well-known for her short stories for kids. But she also wrote books for grown-ups. One of her adult novels is Behind the Clouds. This book is about a couple who cannot have children. It shows how the woman often gets all the blame.

Okoye won awards for her books. In 1983, she received prizes for Behind the Clouds and The Village Boy. These awards came from the Nigerian National Council of Art and Culture. In 1984, her novel Men Without Ears won the best fiction of the year award. She also received another award in 1985 for Daily Bread after Eze. This was at the Ife National Book Fair. In 1999, she was the African winner for the Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

Ifeoma Okoye's Main Books

Ifeoma Okoye started writing after she finished her education. She wrote both short stories and longer novels. Most of her works are short stories for children. However, she also wrote several novels for adults.

• The Power of a Plate of Rice. circa 2011.
• Busy Bee Number Workbook. 1980.
• Eme Goes to School. 1979.

See also

Nigerian woman novelists

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Buchi Emecheta
• Flora Nwapa
• Karen King-Aribisala
• Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
• Chidera Okolie
• Taiwo Odubiyi
• Adaora Lily Ulasi
• Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo
• Nnedi Okorafor
• Chika Unigwe
• Sefi Atta
• Helen Oyeyemi
• Chinelo Okparanta
• Lola Shoneyin
• Chibundu Onuzo