Foremost Nigerian poet, John Pepper Clark, popularly called J.P. Clark, is dead. He was 85.

In a statement signed by Prof. C. C. Clark, for the family and Mr. Ilaye Clark, Professor John Pepper Clark died in the early hours of today.

The statement read, “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce that Emeritus Professor of Literature and Renowned Writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark, has finally dropped his pen in the early hours of today, Tuesday, 13 October 2020.

“Prof. J. P. Clark has paddled on to the great beyond in comfort of his wife, children and siblings, around him.

“The family appreciates your prayers at this time.

Other details will be announced later by the family.”

Mr Clark, who studied at the University of Ibadan, was a professor of English at the University of Lagos, from where he retired.

The poet, born on December 6, 1933, was the younger brother of a former federal commissioner for information and South-South leader, Edwin Clark.

In 1960 Clark wrote his first dramatic work, Song of a Goat, which was staged in Ibadan the
following year.

After graduation, Clark worked as a journalist, editor, and feature writer in Lagos for Express newspapers. His success as a journalist resulted in his being awarded a fellowship to study at Princeton University in the United States.