ILORIN, NIGERIA / NEW YORK, USA — From the classrooms of the University of Ilorin to the prestigious halls of Colgate University, Nigerian writer Olakunle Ologunro continues to chart an inspiring literary journey defined by talent, persistence, and global recognition. The award-winning writer and editor was recently announced as a recipient of the $57,000 Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship in Fiction, one of the most competitive literary residencies in the United States.
Ologunro, who studied English at the University of Ilorin, first gained recognition on campus for his compelling storytelling and mentorship of young writers. A 2016 alumnus of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Creative Writing Workshop, his acclaimed short story, “A Nonrequired Guide to Writing Love Stories” (published in Brittle Paper), cemented his place among emerging voices in Nigerian literature.
In a recent conversation, Ologunro described receiving the Colgate fellowship as “a dream come true.”
“I feel very happy to have gotten this fellowship,” he said. “It means that for at least a year, I don’t have to worry about time, space, or funding. I just have to hold up my end of the deal and write.”
The Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship offers writers the time and resources to complete a major literary project while teaching at Colgate University in New York. As part of the programme, Ologunro teaches an Introduction to Creative Writing course that covers fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Prior to this, Ologunro served as an editor at Zikoko, a Nigerian digital media platform, before relocating to the United States to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing at Johns Hopkins University. His writing has been supported by numerous literary institutions, including the Elizabeth George Foundation, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Juniper Summer Workshop, Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), and Aspen Words, where he was named a 2025 Emerging Writer Fellow in Fiction.
When asked about how his writing has evolved, Ologunro reflected on the role of creative education and maturity:
“As an undergrad, I wrote freely, almost carelessly. The MFA made me question why things worked or didn’t work in my stories. Now, I approach writing as both discovery and craft. I’m learning to trust my vision while still asking the hard questions.”
He revealed that he is currently at work on his first novel, describing the process as both challenging and rewarding.
“With a short story, I feel like I can hold it in my hands,” he said. “But a novel is sustained work — a long thread you have to stretch all the way through to the end.”
Ologunro also discussed how living abroad has influenced his creative vision and relationship with language.
“I still think in Yoruba,” he explained. “My stories are deeply Nigerian. I see writing as throwing a party for Nigerians — but everyone is welcome. The goal is to make the story solid enough to exist on its own.”
Throughout his career, Ologunro has remained a model of humility and creative excellence. His works — often exploring themes of identity, belonging, and emotional truth — have been nominated for major awards, including the Pushcart Prize.
When asked about literary influences, his response was characteristically grounded:
“Anyone who is able to weave a good story is my hero,” he said. “When I read a writer, I want to be entertained and moved — it doesn’t matter if it’s their first or tenth book.”
As he settles into his fellowship year at Colgate University, Olakunle Ologunro continues to embody the spirit of a new generation of African writers redefining the global literary landscape — one story at a time.
