Paul Liam

Paul Liam is a poet, critic, and author of two poetry collections: Indefinite Cravings (2012) and Saint Sha’ade and Other Poems (2014). A 2014 Fellow of the Ebedi International Writers Residency, Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria, and co-editor of the Ebedi Review. In 2014, he was honoured with an award of literary excellence for his contributions to the development of literature in Nigeria by the Ebedi International Writers Residency. Similarly, he has also been recognised by the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation and the Association of Nigerian Authors, Niger State, for his contributions to the growth of literature with various certificates of merit. His poems have appeared in the following publications; Revista Prometeo Numeros 119-120 (Memorias; 33^rd Festival Internacional de Poesia de Medellin, Julio de 2023), Mingled Coins; Seventy Love Poems (selected and edited by Okina Launko (Kraft Books Ibadan, 2020, anthology), Echoes of Carnage; A Collection of Poems on Zamfara, (edited by Jalaludeen Ibrahim and Maryam Gatawa, A.I Publishers Kano, 2021, anthology), Blank Pages Anthology of Poems, Issue I (a cross-cultural anthology, curated by Michal Musialowsky, Blank Pages Global Collective, Germany, 2021, online anthology), Fireflies (Kraft Books Ibadan, 2009, anthology), and Life is Like a Flower (Maziriyya Books, 2005, anthology). 

Liam served as the National Coordinator of the World Poetry Movement (WPM) in Nigeria and was a guest writer at the 33^rd Medellin International Poetry Festival and the 1^st Congress of the World Poetry Movement, which took place in Medellin, Colombia, and Caracas, Venezuela in July 2023. He is a consulting art editor with the Daily Review Newspapers and a former assistant editor of The Art Muse Fair. He was equally a literary columnist and freelance reporter with Newsline Newspapers, Minna, Niger State. Regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest and prolific literary critics writing on contemporary Nigerian literature, he has published over a dozen book reviews and critical essays on contemporary Nigerian literature locally and internationally.  

Liam has attended several literary and art festivals, including the Abuja Literary and Arts Festival (ALITFEST2023) where he moderated a virtual panel session on the theme; “Is Africa the Next Frontier for Stories?”, Hadiza Aliyu School Festival (HIASFEST), Festival Poetry Calabar (2019), the 38th International Conference of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Enugu State, (2019), the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Calabar’s 25th Silver Jubilee International Conference on African Literature and the English Language Cross River State (2018), Minna Book and Arts Festival (2018), The Lapai Humboldt Koleg, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (2018), AWF Abuja Book and Art Festival (2028), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu International Literary Colloquium Minna (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), ANA International Conferences (2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007), First Northern Nigeria Writers’ Summit, Minna, (2008), among others.

Liam attended Government Day Secondary School, Bosso Road, Minna, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State and is currently a postgraduate student of the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State. He is also a communication consultant and is the immediate past Head of Operations of Isu Media Limited, a development communication firm based in Abuja.