Local writer Sydwell Mthombeni won the trophy for Best Teacher at the two-day webinar organised by Cremase Speaking School in Nigeria. The 34-year-old Mthombeni from Bungeni was one of the guest speakers from South Africa, along with others from Zambia and Cameroon.
The theme of the webinar was "The Voice of African Writers," and Mthombeni talked about how writing can shape people and nations. The main aim was to encourage young and upcoming writers not to give up on writing, but to let their voices speak to people through writing.
Students in attendance voted for Mthombeni, who expressed his joy and gratitude for the incredible achievement. "It feels good to be recognised internationally, and it shows how much impact you can add to the world through the use or value of writing. I would like to thank the organiser, Jomoke Amost, for choosing me to be part of this among millions of other writers and speakers in Africa," he said.
Mthombeni attributed his success to smart work and networking locally and internationally, reading books, constantly writing, and learning more. "So, to those who aspire to write, they should continue to connect with other valuable writers. This will help in sharing knowledge and skills that inspire smart writing," he said.
He wants to continue to inspire others, especially young upcoming writers. "I would encourage writers to let their voices speak through their pens, writing what the world lacks, as their voice is essential to the universe," he said.
Mthombeni has published two books and is currently working on publishing a book called The Voice of African Writers in June, along with his co-writers.