Life And People
Appreciating the Philanthropist and My Mentor from U.S “Bill Ward” -By Salim Yakubu Akko
In his tireless efforts of fabricating the writers society, Bill created an online magazine wich he named World Voices Magazine. As the name implies, the magazine, according to Bill, is created mainly to give emerging writers voice to be read all around the world. He publishes creative works ranging from fiction and non-fiction monthly as a way of resorting the narrative of our religiously, racially, and politically segregated society. Recently, he told me about his plan of organizing international creative writing competition where prizes would be given .
Besides having the multi-talented Adamu Usman Garko; the author of the popular When Day Breaks; the young, gentle and generous man who has been mentoring young creative writers here in Northeastern states and beyond as a mentor, there’s other flower from the United States that blooms in the quest of my literary journey to the pinnacle that calling him just a mentor cannot justify. Magnanimous Bill, a fatherly figure, a mentor, philanthropist, and an exemplary of what every sane society would proud to have has been a metallic pillar that I will never forget in my life. My story of change would always be inchoate without mentioning this influential retired United States Marine.
Despite him being a literary mentor to me and others, he’s been helping writers educationally and financially despite being him a retired Marine. Not long ago he sent to me his book he wrote as a veteran titled “Remembering Vietnam 50 Years Later” which was published in 2020 all way from the United States to my motherland, Nigeria. And recently, he did send to me another book written by Phoe Wa, a writer from Mynamar, titled “Answers To Some Of Life’s Most Important Questions” which was sadly stolen at NIPOST. Despite having such terrible experience, he didn’t give up; he went forward and sent me the PDF which I did read weeks ago and learnt a lot from it. Note: he was the one that published the book also. What a great personality he is!
In his tireless efforts of fabricating the writers society, Bill created an online magazine wich he named World Voices Magazine. As the name implies, the magazine, according to Bill, is created mainly to give emerging writers voice to be read all around the world. He publishes creative works ranging from fiction and non-fiction monthly as a way of resorting the narrative of our religiously, racially, and politically segregated society. Recently, he told me about his plan of organizing international creative writing competition where prizes would be given .
To mould this piece, words are dearth to express how immensely grateful I am to this great personality. I pray may the Lord of cosmos help him and his family like the way he has been doing to young writers all around the world.
Salim Yakubu Akko
(Dan Malikin Sadaukin Gona)
