Ikeogu Oke was one of Nigeria’s greatest poet, journalist and advocate. His poetry collection The Heresaid won The Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2017. The work has been described as “a work that speaks to an intense commitment to innovation, tenacity, joyful experimentation and social commentary in a way that provokes delight and engagement” by distinguished judges of the prize, who also said the book was ”a bold and wonderful experiment whose great strength also could have been its great weakness.”

Before his demise in November 2018, Ikeogu had also published other poetry collections including Where I was Born, (2002), Salute Without Guns (2009), In the Wings of Waiting (2012). His award winning book, The Heresiad was published on the same year of award in 2017.