Folu Agoi

Foluso Adedoyin Agoi known as Folu Agoi is a Nigerian creative (and academic) writer, poet and publisher. Born in Ondo State on Tuesday, June 8, 1965. He lives in Lagos with his wife and children.
Early life
Born in Ondo State on Tuesday, June 8, 1965, he attended, for his secondary education, Independence Grammar School, Ondo (1976 - 1977), St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria (1977 - 1978) and Lagos African Church Grammar School (LAFROGRAMS), Ifako-Agege, Lagos (1978 - 1982). He obtained his NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education) in English and Christian Religious Studies from Lagos State (now, Adeniran Ogunsanya) College of Education, Oto/Ijanikiin, Lagos (1986); B.Ed. in English (1994) with M.Ed. in Educational Management (1997) from Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now, University of Ado-Ekiti); and M.A. in English Language (2000) from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba.
Career
Literary career
Agoi’s poetry, much of which is quite accessible to the ordinary mind, is based mostly on contemporary political, economic and socio-cultural issues, as they affect humanity in general and the black race in particular. His poems, apart from trying to chronicle current events in and around his immediate environment, clamour for social reform. The use of sarcasm and humour is the hallmark of his poetry; quite a number of his lyrical poems have featured in several publications.
Erstwhile Vice-Chairman (October 11, 2003 - March 13, 2004), and later, Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Lagos Branch (March 13, 2004 - October 13, 2007), 1st Vice-President of the Nigerian Centre of PEN International (2011 - date).
Agoi has participated in several local and international conferences:
* Christopher Okigbo International Conference, A Multidisciplinary Celebration of Christopher Okigbo’s Legacy, held from Sept 19 to 23, 2007 at Harvard University, Cambridge; Boston University, and University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA, where he delivered a scholarly paper entitled Gender in Christopher Okigbo’s Poetry
* An International Symposium and Concert held on Sept 28 and 29, 2007, at Harvard University in honour of Prof Francis Abiola Irele, on the theme Africa in the World, the World in Africa.
* A seminar on Writing and Publishing, on the theme How to be a Best-Selling Author, organised by Olumide Emmanuel’s Common Sense Group, held on Saturday, March 4, 2006, at Lagos Airport Hotel (Banquet Hall), Ikeja, where he delivered a paper entitled Literary Associations - Importance and Benefits.
Teaching Career
Agoi is a lecturer at the Department of English, School of Languages, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, Lagos, Nigeria. He also teaches English at the External System of Lagos State University, LASU, serving as Programme Officer of the Department of English at Anthony Village campus of Lagos State University. Folu Agoi has taught English Language and Literary Studies, besides some other courses, in a number of post-primary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria - including Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State; Greensprings School, Anthony Village, Lagos; Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (School of Part-Time Studies), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos; University of Ado-Ekiti (Sandwich Degree Programme; in collaboration with Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education); and Ondo State University, Lagos Badagry Outreach.
Also, Agoi is a guest lecturer of English and creative writing at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training School, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Publications
* Agoi, Folu (1999; revised in 2003 and 2006): Towards Effective Use of English - A Grammar of Modern English. Lagos: FLAG Publications (ISBN 978 - 34398 - 0 - 4; 978 - 34398 - 4 - 7; 978 - 34398 - 6 - 3)
* Agoi, Folu (2000): Candid Lyrics - An Anthology of Lyrical Poetry. Lagos: FLAG Publications (ISBN 978 - 34398 - 1 - 2).

* Agoi, Folu (2001): More Candid Lyrics - Another Anthology of Lyrical Poetry. Lagos: FLAG Publications (ISBN 978 - 34398 - 2 - 0).

* Agoi, Folu (2004): An Offering of Olive - An Anthology of Peace Literature. Lagos: FLAG Publications (ISBN 978 - 34398 - 3 - 9).
* Agoi, Folu (2013): Service to Fatherland (poetry). Lagos: FLAG Publications (ISBN 978 - 978 - 48195 - 6 - 5).
Audio
(in Compact Discs and Cassettes)
* Agoi, Folu (2000): “Of What Use Is This Goose?” in The Sound of Poetry - A poetry recording. USA: The International Library of Poetry.

* Agoi, Folu (2001): “Crystal Ball” in The Sound of Poetry - A poetry recording. USA: The International Library of Poetry.

* Agoi, Folu (2002): “What Is Power?” in The Sound of Poetry - A poetry recording. USA: The International Library of Poetry.
 
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